The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline has officially passed. However, fireworks took place during the final few hours. The Dodgers swung for arguably the best starter available, while the Padres grabbed arguably the best reliever available. Tanner Scott is headed to the Padres via trade, while the Marlins received three of San Diego’s top five prospects per MLB.com: Robby Snelling (#2), Adam Mazur (#4), and Graham Pauley (#5).

The Padres’ Return

• RP Tanner Scott (1.18 ERA, 53 K over 45.2 IP)
• RP Bryan Hoeing (2.70 ERA, 25 K over 30 IP)

Just before the 2022 season, the Orioles — who originally drafted Scott — dealt Scott to the Marlins for Kevin Guerrero and Cole Sulser. The trade turned out well for the Marlins, as Scott developed into a premier reliever. He struck out 90 over 62.2 IP in 2022, took over as the team’s closer late in the summer of 2023, and was an NL All-Star this season.

Scott put up gaudy numbers as a closer for the Marlins. The 30-year-old, a good relief prospect before he broke into the Majors, posted a 33.2 Whiff% rate this season, good for the 94th percentile. He also sat in the 99th percentile in Hard Hit% (28.7%).

There’s not too much to Scott; he’s a two-pitch pitcher who has dabbled with a changeup and sinker from time to time. But in 2024, he’s used his four-seamer and slider almost exclusively, as his changeup has been used just once. His four-seamer is a pitch that can touch triple digits and as one would expect, very difficult to get around when up in the zone.

As for his slider, it can just run either away or in on hitters, depending on what side of the plate the batter is on. Provided Scott can get it low and just outside the zone, it can be just too tempting for hitters to lay off. The result? Many whiffs down towards his glove side.

Scott will be a free agent after the 2024 season.

The Marlins’ Return

• SP Robby Snelling (6.01 ERA, 67 K over 73.1 IP (AA))
• SP Adam Mazur (7.49 ERA, 22 K over 33.2 IP)
• INF Graham Pauley (.228/.342/.390, eight HR, and 24 XBH over 70 G (AAA))
• INF Jay Beshears (.261/.373/.377, four HR, and 28 XBH over 85 G (A and A+))

Most notably, the Marlins received Robby Snelling. The 20-year-old, who flashed a low to mid-90s fastball, a plus curveball per reports, and changeup, struck out 118 over 103.1 IP last season across three levels and finished in Double-A. However, things haven’t gone well for Snelling in Double-A this season. Opponents are batting .309 this season off Snelling and his walk rate jumped to 4.1 BB/9.

Miami also received Adam Mazur, the player with the most significant MLB experience out of the four players traded. Mazur was summoned to the Majors earlier this season after a strong run in the Minors. The 23-year-old has several weapons in his arsenal, including a mid-90s fastball with action, a changeup, a curveball, a cut/slider, and a seldom-used sinker.

Mazur, however, struggled badly with command with the Padres. He walked 21 batters over 33.2 IP, almost as many strikeouts (22) he had.

Graham Pauley, a 2019 draft pick out of Duke, made his MLB debut earlier this season. The 2022 13th-round pick erupted for 23 home runs and a .931 OPS in the Minors last season. However, his numbers (.732 OPS) in Triple-A this season haven’t been prolific. Pauley is a corner infielder with power, who showed great acumen for driving balls, including in the lower half, out. He’s also got a short (6.9 ft.) swing.

Beshears, like Pauley, is a former Duke product. He hasn’t shown much power but can get on base, to the tune of .373 this season.

Analysis

Good bullpens win teams playoff series. Just look at the Rangers last season, who had nearly an impenetrable bullpen led by Jose Leclerc, Aroldis Chapman, and Josh Sborz. San Diego’s looking to replicate that, as their front office added Jason Adam and now Scott.

As discussed when the Padres added Adam, it’s important to give teams different looks. San Diego did have two lefties in their pen, Adrian Morejon and Yuki Matsui. However, neither throw as hard or have the same arsenal as Scott. Morejon has a variety of pitches to work with, while Matsui doesn’t throw as hard.

As for the Marlins, Miami continued their overhaul of their farm system, which started when the Fish sent second baseman Luis Arraez to San Diego. Over the last few months, Miami has added a lot of lottery tickets, including three former top prospects in the Padres’ system, Dillon Head, Snelling, and Mazur.

While Mazur and Snelling — and to a certain extent, Pauley — have scuffled, the move does have a high pay-off if all the pieces wind up hitting. Pauley could be an everyday corner infielder for Miami, while Snelling and Mazur could be valuable starters at the MLB level. Both have flashed the stuff before.