Phillies reportedly are ‘keeping a close eye on’ Tanner Scott

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While the Philadelphia Phillies apparently aren’t interested in Miami Marlins OF/2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., they are still monitoring a potential trade target on the Fish.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Sunday that the Phillies are “keeping a close eye on Tanner Scott.”

This is the second national insider to connect the Phillies to the All-Star lefty, as Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported in June that the club had interest in Scott, as did the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers. Nonetheless, it’s newsworthy at this time of the year to hear repeated confirmation that a team likes a given player because as price tags and needs change, so can interest levels.

For the Phillies, the need to add another reliever has become apparent in recent weeks. While Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman were All-Stars, Orion Kerkering and José Alvarado both melted down in a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates Friday.

Back end of bullpen buckles in loss to Pirates

Alvarado in particular is concerning because he’s got an 11.81 ERA this month, and as we detailed, isn’t generating nearly as many swings and misses on his sinker as he did a year ago.

Also worth pointing out is that Seranthony Domínguez — a key cog in the team’s 2022 NL Pennant-winning bullpen — has a 4.63 ERA over 37 appearances this season.

It’s also unclear to what extent the Phillies trust Gregory Soto. Without a doubt, Soto has the stuff to be an elite late-inning reliever. But his tendency to have occasional blowups makes it hard to plan for him taking down the highest-leverage innings in October.

Scott — who can become a free agent after this season — leads all relievers in WAR since the start of the 2023 season at 3.5, edging out Hoffman. He’s putting together the best season of his career in 2024, with a 1.30 ERA in 40 appearances for the Marlins. Both his 3.10 expected ERA and 3.38 FIP suggest some regression could be coming, but there’s something to be said for just getting great results, and he’s certainly done that.

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