World Series-champion Dodgers spend big again with huge $72m addition to leave rival fans furious

Already satisfied with a starting rotation that includes Cy Young winners, All-Stars and one of the biggest Japanese pitching prospects to ever cross the Pacific, the reigning World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers have now turned their attention to the bullpen.

As reported by MLB.com and ESPN, the Dodgers are in agreement on a four-year, $72 million deal with former San Diego Padres reliever Tanner Scott – a hard-throwing southpaw with a lively four-seam fastball and challenging slider.

Scott was phenomenal between stops in Miami and San Diego last season, posting a 1.75 ERA (earned-run average) for the season with an impressive WHIP (walks and hits per inning) of just 1.125.

Keep in mind, the Dodgers already have elite relievers such as Blake Treinen (1.93 ERA in 2024), Brusdar Graterol (2.45 ERA) and converted starter Michael Kopech (2.54 ERA in 24 innings with the team last season).

And with the recent additions of top-end starters such as former San Francisco Giants ace Blake Snell and 23-year-old Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki, not to mention the returns of injured hurlers like Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow, rival fans are beginning to freak out.

'Geez,' one fan groaned on X. 'Should we even have a 2025 MLB season? Might as well give the Dodgers the repeat trophy right now.'

'Where is the weak link in the Dodgers armor?' another fan asked. 'I can't find it.'

A more sarcastic fan added: 'Great. I was beginning to worry they wouldn't get anyone this winter.'

'THEY MAY NEVER LOSE A GAME,' another exacerbated commenter wrote on X.

Not all of the Dodgers stars were lured with nine- and 10-figure sums. Sasaki, for instance, could only sign for $5 million due to MLB rules limiting teams' bonus-pool money for prospects. Had he waited until he'd accrued six full seasons in Japan and turned 25, as new teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto did last year, Sasaki wouldn't have faced any restrictions on his new deal. 

Yamamoto, meanwhile, inked a 12-year, $325 million contract in LA en route to a World Series title in his rookie season. 

The team's most notorious contract belongs to Ohtani, who came over from the Los Angeles Angels last season on a back-loaded 10-year, $700 million deal - a pact that continues to bother rival fans. 

'How much deferred?' one fan asked in response to an ESPN report of Scott's $72 million deal. 

As reported by The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, Scott's deal does include some deferred money.