The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a strong start in pursuit of a back-to-back World Series championship.
The team has a 16-8 record so far after reloading a star-studded roster with even more proven talent. This past offseason, the Dodgers landed the likes of Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell while re-signing Teoscar Hernández, Clayton Kershaw and others.
But one of their biggest star acquisitions — a four-year, $72 million deal for closer Tanner Scott — might not have happened if a National League rival had been willing to pay more.
In January, Major League Baseball insider Jon Morosi reported that the Chicago Cubs had offered Scott a four-year, $66 million deal before he reached his contract with the Dodgers. And Pat Ragazzo added that Scott preferred joining the Cubs, but that the team hesitated to offer him a contract of the same length as the Dodgers.
As the Dodgers kicked off a series against the Cubs on Tuesday, Scott was asked directly about his offseason offer from the Cubs and he reluctantly broke his silence on the negotiations.
“They were one of the teams talking to me,” Scott confirmed, per Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. “It ultimately came down to me choosing the Dodgers. I felt like I fit best here. And I’m happy with my decision.”
Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp
Mooney noted that Scott was “sidestepping” questions about how close he was to joining the Cubs and how close the team’s offer was to what he ultimately accepted from the Dodgers. But, given how well the Cubs have started the season, it’s hard not to imagine how things might have played out if Scott had joined the team.
The Cubs have a 15-10 record thanks to one of baseball’s best offenses and despite one of its highest bullpen ERAs. Meanwhile, Scott has followed up his 2024 All-Star campaign with a 2.77 ERA and eight saves in 13 innings with the Dodgers.
Had the Cubs made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, Scott might be leading a more dominant bullpen in Chicago and adding some momentum to the team’s stellar start.
More MLB: Cubs Kyle Tucker gets $300 million contract update after extension news