Cubs Rumors: Tanner Scott fallback option comes into focus with latest insider report

News over the weekend connected that Chicago Cubs to free-agent closer Tanner Scott, who the Cubs extended beyond their comfort zone in an attempt to sign but ultimately fell short to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

One report from Jon Morosi had the Cubs offering Scott a deal worth $66MM for four years. Such a deal was once believed to be a foreign concept for Jed Hoyer's front but it does speak to the urgency he may have in wanting to make sure that bullpen struggles that failed the Cubs in each of 2023 and 2024 do not surface in 2025

Along those lines, in the aftermath of Scott signing with the Dodgers, Morosi notes that the Cubs are among the teams interested in Carlos Estévez.

Splitting time with the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies last season, Estévez posted a 2.45 ERA in 54 total appearances with 26 saves. Estevez has routinely been a predicted free-agent signing for the Cubs this season as the team looks to stabilize the backend of their bullpen.

The idea of the Cubs pursuing Estévez had previously been met with reservation given Hoyer's tendency to avoid multi-year deals for relief pitchers. However, given their flirtation with Scott, it would be fair to speculate if the same urgency could be applied to a pursuit of Estévez.

Hoyer had laid the groundwork for raising the floor of the Cubs' bullpen, adding Eli Morgan, Caleb Theilbar, and Matt Festa this offseason. That can't be the only work that is done. The Cubs need to add a legitimate arm to the backend of their bullpen and Estévez would check that box. A bullpen that includes an established Estévez, along with ascending arms in Porter Hodge and Ben Brown, is one that the Cubs could find success with in 2025.