AJ Preller is always lurking somewhere.
Just under two hours before the 6 p.m. trade deadline, the Padres’ general manager pulled off the biggest surprise of the frenzy by acquiring Marlins relief pitcher Tanner Scott, Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of The Washington Post confirmed.
The 30-year-old left-hander was widely regarded as the best bullpen prospect available on the market.
Scott, who will be a free agent after the 2024 season, has appeared in 44 games this season and posted a paltry 1.18 ERA, including 18 of his 20 saves.
At the same time, Scott’s 5.32 walks per nine innings is the 12th-worst mark among qualified relief pitchers.
Heyman reported that other teams, including the Yankees, Orioles and Dodgers, were also interested in Scott.
The former Orioles and Marlins player will join a Padres team that has won seven of its last eight games and is in contention with the Mets for the final National League wild card spot.
According to MLB.com, the Padres acquired Scott in exchange for left-handed pitcher Robbie Snelling, right-handed pitcher Adam Mazur, infielder Graham Pauley and infielder Jay Beshears, three of whom were ranked among the team’s top five preseason prospects.
San Diego also acquired 27-year-old right-hander Brian Hoying, who has a 2.70 ERA in 16 appearances this year.
The Padres made the surprising move of acquiring Rays relief pitcher Jason Adam on Monday.
Be sure to check out The Washington Post’s live coverage of the 2024 MLB trade deadline. Who will make the big splash: the Yankees or the Mets?
Rookies Scott and Adam will now join Jeremiah Estrada, Robert Suarez and Yuki Matsui at the back end of San Diego’s bullpen.
With expiring contracts for Scott, Carlos Estevez, Lucas Erceg and Michael Kopech, the best relief pitchers remaining are Kyle Finnegan of the Nationals, Pete Fairbanks of the Rays and Dylan Floro of the Nationals, but the clock is ticking to get deals done.
Both the Yankees, who acquired Mark Leiter Jr. from the Cubs in a trade, and the Mets, who acquired Tyler Zuber from the Rays, are continuing to look to bolster their bullpens.
