On Monday September 15, 2025, the Arizona Diamondbacks designated former San Francisco Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani for assignment.
If DeSclafani clears waivers, which he likely will, he is expected to be released later this week.
DeSclafani struggled this season, his first and only in Arizona. In 13 games (4 starts) he pitched 38.2 innings, had a 5.12 ERA and gave up 37 hits including a whopping 11 home runs.
DeSclafani pitched for three seasons in San Francisco from 2021-23. His best season with the Giants, 2021, was also the best year of his career thus far. In 31 starts, DeSclafani had a 13-7 record with a 3.17 ERA. He also led all of MLB with two complete game shutouts thrown.
He struggled in 2022 and 2023 while also dealing with injuries. But there’s no doubt some Giants fans who are still rooting for “Disco”, and if he can bounce back with San Francisco, all the better.
Does A DeSclafani Reunion Make Sense For The Giants?
Ironically, despite how poor this season has been for DeSclafani, he might be better than some of the Giants’ other starting pitcher options right now.
Right now, due to injuries and trades that have happened throughout the season, the Giants have five healthy or soon to become healthy options to fill their No. 4 and No. 5 starter roles: Kai-Wei Teng, Carson Seymour, Carson Whisenhunt and Tristan Beck.
DeSclafani’s ERA this season is better than all of theirs except Whisenhunt.
Now, do many of these pitchers, especially Whisenhunt, Teng and Tidwell, have a lot of upside? Absolutely. And compared to DeSclafani, who is 35 years old, the Giants would be wise to make plenty of investment in their younger arms.
The Giants seem unlikely to plug and play DeSclafani this season to make 1-2 starts with only 10 games left. That would be a very desperate move, and signal no confidence in their younger arms. If the Giants are desperate to make the playoffs above all else, there technically is a very slim, outside chance they give “Disco” a call. But that would be…dramatic.
The more likely potential reunion between DeSclafani and the Giants could take place next spring. DeSclafani would be a logical candidate for the Giants to bring to spring training as a non-roster invitee.
One of the Giants’ biggest issues this season has been organizational starting pitching depth. If Disco is willing to try and earn his spot in the rotation in camp, and potentially sign a minor league contract with the Giants to open the season, he might be worth the flier.
Justin Verlander has had a resurgent second half of 2025 at age 42. It’s not too late for Disco to do the same thing.
Who Will Start Next For The Giants?
To open this weekend for their big, season-defining four game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, the Giants are starting their aces, Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, to face Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Clayton Kershaw.
Logan Webb 👀
One of the most underrated aces in the league.
But after Webb and Ray throw, the Giants have two more games against the Dodgers that the starting pitcher has not been announced for.
In all likelihood, Kai-Wei Teng will start on Saturday September 20, 2025 in the third game of the series. But the fourth game is where it gets interesting.
Carson Seymour started in that spot for a few games in the rotation and struggled. Tristan Beck took his spot for a start on Tuesday September 16, but that definitely felt like a temporary fix.
If Whisenhunt or Tidwell are healthy, one of them will definitely take that slot in the rotation.
Recent callup Trevor McDonald is also probably an option to make his first MLB start.
Justin Verlander will likely start on Monday September 22, 2025 in the Giants’ series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Giants fans, how should San Francisco solve their pitching depth issues?
Former San Francisco Giants Ace Recently Became Available For Potential Reunion