Padres bullpen set to lose key piece as All-Star reliever prepares to depart

During the 2024 campaign, the San Diego Padres pieced together a bullpen that was on the good side of league-average. A handful of new and familiar faces stepped up like Bryan Hoeing and Adrian Morejon, but the trio of Robert Suarez, Jason Adam and Tanner Scott was the real money maker.

As the 2024-25 offseason marches on, the former two are still on the Padres and are both expected to play major roles on next year's roster. However, the latter remains a free agent. As the days go by, more and more pieces are beginning to shuffle on both the trade and free agent markets, so there's a great chance that Scott gets picked up by a club by this time tomorrow.

Scott, 30, is a prime reunion candidate with the Padres, as he was utterly dominant during a 28-game showing this past season after coming over via trade from the Marlins. The left-hander is reportedly drawing interest from the Atlanta Braves and - in a worst-case scenario - the Los Angeles Dodgers, as relayed by MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

Dodgers interest in Tanner Scott is Padres' worst nightmare

From top to bottom, the Dodgers are already the best all-around team in all of the league. The club has the most lethal offense and one of the most talented pitching staffs (albeit an injury prone one) we've seen in quite some time.

Bringing Scott into the fold would give them an embarrassment of riches when it comes to talent, but it'd also be the Padres' worst nightmare. Having to have the door slammed in San Diego's face by Scott every time they face the Dodgers is a horrible outcome in this whole ordeal.

Widespread interest in Scott is understandable, as he's quietly become one of the more durable and consistently great relief pitchers in the game. The 30-year-old posted a sparkling 1.75 ERA with 22 saves across 72 games this past season. In 72 innings of work, he struck out 84 batters (10.5 K/9) while allowing just three home runs all year long.

Scott is as talent-filled as they come, and you know what you're getting with him. He's a high-strikeout, whiff-generating and strike-zone-pounding pitch artist who is one of the best run prevention machines in today's game.

Even if the Padres are unable to bring him back - a scenario which seems more and more like a fever dream by the day - it's imperative that another club steps up and finds a way to outbid the Dodgers. Having him go straight to a division rival would be just enough to send already squirrely Padres fans over the edge.