Dodgers' $72M All-Star gets perfect chance to redeem career-worst season after Edwin Diaz injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Tanner Scott during the 2025 offseason in hopes that he would lock down the closer role. However, he ended up having one of the worst seasons of his career. Following that lackluster year, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear he expected more.

“I think if you’re talking about a place where we can improve, I still feel last year was an outlier year for Tanner Scott,” Roberts said. “I just think there were some things he kept under wraps about his body. I think the transition to L.A. and anything that could go wrong, went wrong. I just feel he works his tail off, he’s too talented, and his track record was nothing like last year. So I just think it was an outlier of a season.”

While Scott has worked in late-inning situations this season, he was not serving as the closer with Edwin Díaz in that role. Now, Díaz is dealing with an elbow injury that will sideline him.

“Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, the team announced. The expectation is that the reliever could sit out around three months, a source told ESPN's Alden Gonzalez on Monday. Los Angeles put Diaz, 32, on the 15-day injured list before the team's series finale with the Colorado Rockies on Monday,” ESPN wrote.

With Díaz expected to miss significant time, this presents a major opportunity for Scott to prove he still has what it takes.

“This is where Tanner Scott can prove that the Dodgers did not make a mistake, and moreover that the Dodgers are right in having confidence in him to take the ball in the 9th inning,” Foul Territory’s Alanna Rizzo said.

Scott was one of the most sought-after relievers during the 2025 free agency window. However, his first season with the Dodgers didn’t reflect that level of demand.

Now in the second year of his $72 million contract, Scott has a prime opportunity to seize control of the closer role while Díaz is sidelined—and potentially hold onto it even after he returns.