For most of this offseason, you could hear a pin drop in the Braves rumor mill. Other than the alleged early interest in Nathan Eovaldi, nothing has been heard. Over the winter, Alex Anthopoulos decided to remain patient and wait out the market.

Yes, many talented players have already signed contracts, but not many have come at a price that has left Braves fans angry that Anthopoulos passed on them. However, that hasn’t stopped Braves fans from advocating for Anthopoulos to move on. Luckily, we got a glimmer of hope recently when David O’Brien of the Athletic said that Atlanta was interested in the best bullpen arm on the market.

David O’Brien claims Braves are interested in LHP Tanner Scott

Most of the big names have already signed mega-deals (including a former Brave), but the market for impact reliever Tanner Scott has been a bit slower. The former Padre is expected to receive the highest contract among free agent signings, with some media outlets predicting a four-year, $55 million deal.

What we know about Alex Anthopoulos is that he is not afraid to throw money at replacements. Scott is a phenomenal, hard-throwing left-handed hitter who could become Atlanta’s closer after 2025 when Raisel Iglesias hits free agency.

Scott had one 1.75 ERA, 2.92 FIPAnd 4.0 bWAR over 72 innings last season, so he won’t come with a tee. Given the other holes on the roster, it may not be wise to allocate too much money to the bullpen, especially considering Aaron Bummer and Dylan Lee are already active left-handed hitters in the bullpen.

I think most Braves fans would certainly prefer a splash signing in left field or rotation over a late inning arm, although not many remaining free agents qualify as a splash. However, if the market continues to produce these high-paying deals, perhaps Anthopoulos will turn to building a powerhouse bullpen instead. Adding Scott would definitely give them that on paper.

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