MLB insider connects SF Giants to All-Star closer in fit that makes no sense

Former general manager and current MLB insider for The Athletic Jim Bowden speculated on where the top remaining free agents will land. He lists the SF Giants as a possible landing spot for All-Star reliever Tanner Scott in a move that would make no sense.

MLB insider connects SF Giants to All-Star closer in fit that makes no sense

Bowden does predict that Scott will eventually sign with the Boston Red Sox. However, he mentions the Toronto Blue Jays and Giants as potential fits, believing that each team could use an upgrade at closer.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Texas Rangers are mentioned as other possible destinations. At the end of the day, it feels like the Dodgers are a strong fit here.

I should preface this by saying that the Giants could use help in the bullpen. Their bullpen was in the middle of the pack with a 3.96 ERA in 2024. However, that unit could look a little longer next year following some positive developments from their younger relievers.

That said, Bowden's premise makes no sense for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the Giants already have a closer in Ryan Walker.

Walker was inserted into the closer role following Camilo Doval's struggles in the ninth inning last year. He was arguably one of the best relievers in baseball in 2024 as he tallied a 1.91 ERA in 76 appearances. The right-hander also converted all 10 save opportunities once he was elevated to the closer role.

As Doval demonstrated last year, the career arc of a reliever can be volatile. So, if Walker struggles, the Giants have some insurance with Doval. Plus, Randy Rodríguez could be a candidate to fill in at closer if his control shows improvement next season. There were a few moments where he looked the part last season.

The second reason has to do with where the Giants are at in the competitive cycle. They have missed the playoffs in three straight seasons and have not posted a winning record since 2021.

Tanner Scott is coming off of an excellent season in which he registered a 1.75 ERA in 72 outings split between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. He picked the perfect time to have a career year and should land a lucrative payday this offseason.

The teams that generally invest that type of money in a closer are the ones that reach the playoffs annually. Generally, they have a good roster and need a reliable closer to fortify the bullpen.

There are only a handful of teams who are willing to invest significant money into a closer anyway. Many small-market teams either trade a good reliever to maximize value or once he becomes too expensive.

The Giants are the type of team that could afford a good closer like Scott. However, they have not played like a team that needs an expensive closer. It would be like a struggling football team investing in an expensive field goal kicker. It is just not characteristic of a team that has hovered around 80 wins for the past few years.

This is not to say that Scott would not be an excellent addition for San Francisco. He would be and the dynamic of the bullpen would shift. That said, that is just not the type of move that .500 teams make these days. It is a fun idea that makes little sense.