Diamondbacks DFA key SF Giants pitcher from 2021 miracle season

The SF Giants are in the midst of a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks who just DFA'd former Giant Anthony DeSclafani. The pitcher was a key member of the 2021 Giants team that won 107 games.

DeSclafani was designated for assignment to make room for another reliever on Arizona's roster. He had been struggling in his tenure with the Diamondbacks so the move does not come as that huge of a shock.

Diamondbacks DFA former SF Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani

In 13 appearances and four starts with Arizona, DeSclafani had a 5.12 ERA in 38 and 2/3 innings pitched. His second to last outing with the Diamondbacks came against the Giants and he got lit up, allowing four earned runs in three innings of work against his former team.

The 35-year-old right-hander spent some time in Arizona's rotation this season which makes sense because much of their pitching staff has been either ravaged by injury or was traded away at the deadline. Yet, he was demoted to the bullpen after his struggles.

DeSclafani has had a bit of a whirlwind season as he spent some time in the minors with the New York Yankees organization but opted out of his deal with New York to join the Diamondbacks.

The last time DeSclafani pitched in the big leagues prior to this season was back in 2023 when he was still with the Giants. He ended up spending three seasons in San Francisco, one of which was very good while the other two were quite poor.

In 2021 he was a huge part of the team's rotation as he had a 3.17 ERA in 31 starts with a 13-7 record and he helped the Giants set a franchise record with 107 wins. That was also the last year the Giants made the playoffs.

2022 and 2023 were marked by injuries and struggles on the mound for DeSclafani after he was rewarded with a three-year deal by the Giants following his great 2021. Even though he did not help the team much those two seasons, the Giants were able to send DeSclafani and Mitch Haniger to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Robbie Ray which is arguably the best thing Farhan Zaidi ever did with the Giants.

DeSclafani's future is now uncertain after being DFA'd. Maybe a team will scoop him up in these last few weeks if they need an arm to give them innings but it seems more likely he will have to try and get a non-roster invite to a big league club in spring training next season.

Even with how rough San Francisco's pitching situation is right now, a reunion with DeSclafani in the last few weeks of the season seems highly unlikely.

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