Camilo Doval’s total fall from grace after Pirates DFA gives SF Giants hilarious opportunity

Former SF Giants closer Camilo Doval has had a rough journey since he was traded to the New York Yankees last season. His tenure in New York was rocky to say the least and he got traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this season. Now his fall from grace is complete as the Pirates have just designated him for assignment.

Doval had a 3.79 ERA in 19 innings with the Pirates. That's not awful, but he walked 14 batters and struck out 23 so the Pirates probably weren't thrilled with that walk rate. This comes after he had a 4.54 ERA with the Yankees in 44 appearances earlier this season and after he had a 4.82 ERA after getting traded to New York last season.

It doesn't seem like Doval is irreparably broken. He is obviously a long way from the dominant force he was on the mound at his best with the Giants, but it doesn't seem completely irrational to think some mechanical tweaks could get him back on track. Could a return to the cool air of San Francisco be just what he needs?

Giants should pick Doval up off waivers just for the heck of it

At this point, the Giants might as well just scoop him up off waivers. Blade Tidwell is likely going to go on the IL after leaving Monday night's game with elbow discomfort so they need to add a pitcher anyway. They could call up someone like Braxton Roxby from the minors, or they could get a little wild and bring back Doval.

The worst-case scenario is he does terrible if the Giants put him in a game which doesn't even matter because the season is already essentially over. Best-case scenario he looks good, the Giants decide to keep him in the offseason, and he returns to his All-Star form next season for San Francisco all while the Giants looks genius for stealing Jesus Rodriguez, Parks Harber, and Trystan Vrieling from the Yankees in the process.

Is that the likeliest scenario? No, probably not. But the baseball gods owe the Giants at this point. San Francisco may be without four young arms who seemed like they could potentially be in the rotation so the least they are owed is Doval coming back to the Giants and magically turning into his old self.

The Giants are probably going to add a bunch of guys on waivers anyway as they try to rebuild the bullpen so why not give Doval another shot? 2026 cannot get much odder.

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