After undergoing season-ending surgery before the 2024 campaign, Anthony DeSclafani is poised to make a comeback with a new team in 2025. Although he was acquired by the Minnesota Twins from the Mariners in January, DeSclafani never suited up for the Twins due to injury. While missing an entire season may deter some teams, others may be willing to take on the risk, weighing the potential reward of signing a veteran pitcher like DeSclafani.
Anthony DeSclafani Free Agent Profile
DeSclafani’s offseason was marked by a pair of trades. First, the San Francisco Giants dealt him to the Seattle Mariners. Just 24 days later, the Mariners traded DeSclafani to the Twins, along with three other players, in exchange for Jorge Polanco. DeSclafani was entering the final year of a three-year, $36 million contract he signed with the Giants in 2022. His time with the Giants was marred by injury, limiting him to just five starts in 2022. Although he rebounded with 18 starts in 2023, he fell short of his career-high 31 starts.
The Twins had envisioned DeSclafani as a key addition to their rotation after losing Sonny Gray to free agency, according to Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com. However, DeSclafani’s 2023 season had ended on a concerning note, with tendon issues in his right ankle, right shoulder fatigue, and a right elbow flexor strain. Those health issues proved to be a harbinger of things to come. Just as the 2024 season got underway, DeSclafani underwent season-ending surgery on his throwing arm in late March. The Twins were left scrambling to fill the void in their rotation, while DeSclafani’s contract season was cut short before it even began.
Potential Landing Spots
Houston Astros
With the future hall of famer Justin Verlander and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi becoming free agents, it would make sense for the Houston Astros to look at DeSclafini. First, the Astros’ team WHIP (1.244) and BB/9 (3.4) were middle-of-the-pack in the American League. DeSclafani boasts a career WHIP of 1.268 and BB/9 of 2.4. He could maintain or improve these metrics. DeSclafani’s 49.1% ground ball rate in 2021 would help limit home runs at Houston’s homer-friendly ballpark.
Atlanta Braves
It would also make sense for DeSclafini to sign with the Atlanta Braves. With Chris Sale, Charlie Morton, and Max Fried being notable free agents from their 2024 pitching staff, there are certainly holes Atlanta will need to fill potentially. Besides DeSclafini’s low-cost, high-reward factor, one thing that would benefit Atlanta is his experience. With younger arms like Spencer Schwellenbach and AJ Smith-Shawver, adding a veteran may take some pressure off their younger players and provide leadership. DeSclafini will most likely sign a short-term contract wherever he ends up. Atlanta has a track record of signing pitchers for these short-term contracts, making it the perfect landing spot for DeSclafini.
Market Value and Projections
For teams looking to add experience and reliability (when healthy) to their pitching staff, DeSclafini may stand out. DeSclafani is an attractive option for teams seeking to stabilize their pitching depth. He can fill middle or back-end rotation roles and has shown flashes of being a reliable mid-rotation starter. DeSclafani’s standout 2021 season with the Giants highlights his potential. He made 31 starts, going 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA and 152 strikeouts. If fully recovered, DeSclafani could become a reliable inning-eating starter. His 31-start seasons in 2015 and 2021 demonstrate his ability to handle a heavy workload.
Spotrac.com projects DeSclafini’s contract at one-year, $2.3 million. This estimate aligns with comparable deals for pitchers in similar situations, such as Mike Clevinger’s one-year, $4.1 million contract and Carlos Carrasco’s one-year, $2 million deal. If DeSclafini can return to his K/BB ratio of 3.62 in 2021, he will be a reward to the team willing to take a risk on a pitcher who hasn’t started a game since 2023.
Main Photo: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
