While much of the Chicago Cubs offseason trade buzz has centered around Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, the perfect fit and trade partner could be Tanner Scott and the Miami Marlins. Scott represents an under-the-radar arm and could be available as the Marlins undergo a regime change.
The Cubs bullpen is primarily right-handed. Adding Scott, a lefty, would give Craig Counsell an intriguing option to pair with fellow late-inning hurlers Hector Neris and Adbert Alzolay.
The former Baltimore Orioles southpaw joined the Marlins in a trade before the 2022 season, but he really found himself in 2023. In 74 games last season, Scott threw 78 innings and finished with a 2.31 ERA.
Scott's dominant pitch was a slider, which helped him net a 33.9% strikeout rate. The 29-year-old was a big part of the Marlins' success, which included a trip to the postseason.
But why would the Marlins would be willing to trade someone of Scott's caliber? Bullpen arms are volatile — something the Cubs front office knows very well given its low-dollar commitments to the relief corps.
Miami might be a perfect trade partner for Chicago. The Cubs can deal from their surplus of young hitters, such as Alexander Canario, Nick Madrigal, and Matt Mervis. Former Cubs slugger Jorge Soler recently departed the Marlins through free agency and doesn't look to be in the club's future plans.
Perhaps the Cubs could also offset some of their pitching in a potential deal. Drew Smyly still has one more season under contract, and Keegan Thompson could be a nice bet for the Marlins to take.
Overall, the Cubs could explore several avenues to acquire Scott's services. While Clase's name has been the centerpiece of most rumors to date, Jed Hoyer and Co. should view Scott as the better fit moving forward.
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