Should the Twins Re-Sign Starting Pitcher Anthony DeSclafani This Offseason?

[Cody Schoenmann]

Veteran starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani will likely never throw a pitch for the Minnesota Twins. However, the front office could change that by re-signing him this offseason. Would it be wise to do that?

Image courtesy of © Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

On Jan. 29, the Minnesota Twins traded fan-favorite second baseman Jorge Polanco to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, reliever Justin Topa, outfield prospect Gabriel Gonzalez, and pitching prospect Darren Bowen. Upon hearing news of the transactions, those who followed the Twins quickly released trade grades and put each of the four players acquired in a box, assessing which netted the most value for Minnesota.

Consensus agreed that González (Keith Law of The Athletic's 96th-ranked prospect at the time) was the gem of the trade. Topa was most commonly deemed the second-most valuable player in the trade, considering he was expected to become a high-leverage arm out of the team's bullpen. Bowen took the third spot, as a high-variance, low-minors arm who could potentially blossom into an MLB-caliber pitcher under the Twins' pitching development tutelage.

Then, there was DeSclafani. Many who analyzed the trade labeled the then-33-year-old starting pitcher as a mere throw-in acquisition, whose primary purpose was to cancel out some of Polanco's salary in the swap. To me, these assessments were narrow and sluggish.

If DeSclafani could have avoided season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm before his 2024 campaign began, he would have been the team's fifth starting pitcher behind incumbents Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Chris Paddack. Had he maintained adequate health to this point of the season, there is a significant chance he would be the team's third-most trusted starting pitcher, behind López and Ober. Now, we are probably dabbling too far into hypotheticals. However, a starting pitcher slotted to begin the season as a team's fifth starter should be considered more than a "throw-in," particularly considering how injuries have quickly derailed the Twins' rotation. No player slated to take on a full-time role should be dismissed and passively deemed a meaningless acquisition.

Despite Topa not yet appearing for the team this season, DeSclafani's absence has negatively affected the team more, and he should have at least been considered the second-most important acquisition in the trade. Nevertheless, the now-34-year-old hurler never threw a pitch in a Twins uniform, and he likely never will. He's in the final year of his current contract and is slated to hit free agency at season's end.

That said, the organization could be incentivized to bring him back next season as a post-injury flier. In a piece written by Twins Daily's Eric Blonigen, he noted that roughly $30 million will come off the cash-strapped Twins payroll this fall. In turn, the team's projected 2025 payroll will be around $127.8 million to begin the offseason, with $34 million going toward the starting rotation and $3 million toward Randy Dobnak's contract. The team needs to make some other additions, and will have precious little to spend, since that projected payroll figure will already be virtually identical to their payroll for this season.

However, the team could find creative ways to expel Christian Vázquez ($10 million), Paddack ($7.5 million), or other contract obligations, and relieve themselves of somewhere between $12-15 million. Doing so would leave the front office with some money to play with this offseason, meaning they could add a veteran or two on cheaper contracts, similar to what they did this past offseason. López, Ryan, and Ober are surefire bets to make the club's Opening Day starting rotation next season. However, moving Paddack would mean creating a space in the rotation, in addition to some in the budget. Young, promising arms like Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa, Zebby Matthews, Andrew Morris, and post-hype Louie Varland are all viable candidates. However, the front office emphasizes veteran depth, especially early in the season, meaning they could pursue a cheap, veteran, back-of-the-rotation arm.

If team decision-makers elect to venture down this path, DeSclafani could reenter the rotation mix. The sinker-tossing right-hander is making $12 million this season. However, the Twins are paying only $4 million, as the San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners are collectively covering the remaining $8 million. He'll only cost roughly that $4 million figure this winter, and maybe even less, after undergoing surgery just after Opening Day that carries a recovery timeline of roughly 13 months. The front office values what DeSclafani has to offer. Mixing this with their tendency to prioritize veteran depth and the limitations of their spending power, a reunion between the two parties would make sense.

Retaining DeSclafani's services would allow the team to have Festa, Matthews, Varland, and Morris compete for the final rotation spot. Whoever falls short in the competition would function as young, cost-controlled rotation depth at Triple-A. The team has leaned on their surplus of depth in the high minors this season, and they would be wise to put themselves in a situation where they could do the same in 2025.

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[Craig Arko]

I reckon not. — Josey Wales

[LambchoP]

Sure, offer him a minor league deal. If we're able to sign any starters this off-season, then they need to raise the ceiling of our starting staff. We have plenty of rookies and number 4-5 type guys. I think the bullpen needs some serious work as well. Moving Varland there might help. Other than Duran, Jax, Alcala and Sands, I wouldn't trust anyone. We need one or two good lefties for sure. Theilbar and Okert are probably gone. Do we have Okert another season? I know we have Topa for another year or two. Maybe he finally gets healthy and gives us something.

[Scott51104]

I'm sorry. I read the headline and presumed this was Stu's Friday article.

[Twins GFP]

MiLB contracts with Spring Training invites for veteran pitchers that show some modicum of ability should be handed out like candy.

[roger]

No

[Schmoeman5]

Can the Twins sign him for a buck? 

[Karbo]

At this time I would see him as more of a road block for the young guys on the farm. Sure, sign him to a minor league deal with an invite, but until they see what he has left in the tank, and how he recovers from surgery, I would shy away.

[gman]

No

[Hrbeks Divot]

While I agree that he should have been viewed as more than a “throw in” when he was slated to be the fifth starter, there is little chance he was ever going to be this team’s third most trusted starter. If anyone was thinking that, we were not going to be taken seriously as a contender.

[CCHOF5yearstoolate]

Normally I'd say something like "If it's cheap, who cares throw some money at him and see if he's got anything left". 

But of course now that the pennies are being pinched more severely, that's probably not true any more. Every dollar has to count, now. 

[CRF]

Depends on what he's looking to make. If he's cheap, and will take a minor league deal, sure.

[Brandon]

There is no such thing as a bad 1 year contract and you can never have too much pitching.  
 

I’m good with a split minor league contract. 4 million prorated when in the bigs with incentives to make it up to 8-10 million.  If he is pitching it’s because he beat out the rookies.  Or because depth is being tested and it’s better to have more arms available.  if he is here on a minor league deal and has to earn his spot , I don’t see why not.  
 

As far as the trade goes,  I had him ranked 2nd behind Gonzalez in terms of value in the trade.  I had him as a placeholder starter ahead of Topa but replaceable if a rookie earned it.  I thought he had the potential to be a solid starter.  But didn’t expect it.  The Twins have been linked to him in the past.  I could see them signing him to a deal this offseason.  

[Mike Sixel]

Hahaha. No. 

[Dman]

Even at his reasonable Salary I don't know if it would be all that easy to trade Paddack. It's essentially a 5.00 ERA with slightly below average K rate and he is a fly ball pitcher.  I get that he might be better a year after TJ, but looking back at his numbers this year pretty much matches who he has always been. Add in the forearm strain that has him missing time right now and I think most teams would feel they can do better.

Even if they could unload him say to the Angels would they really want to take another risk on Desclafani?  I get that it's not ideal to have two rookies in the back end, but shouldn't the Twins be trying to develop those guys in season?  With some refinement Festa looks like he could do as well as Paddack did this year if not better.  Festa's K rate at the MLB level is really good he just needs better control and keep the ball in the park.  Zebby has elite control and simply needs to work on command. He looks ready for MLB to me. Why make him wait? Morris is right behind them and likely one of Lewis, Prielipp, Raya, or Culpepper will be ready mid next year as well.

There is enough depth and enough financial concern that now seems more like the time to develop the in house talent you have than searching for a wild card.  If it were me I would try and build with the young guys.  Let's see what we have or don't have using those last two spots on young arms.  Give them the experience they need to get better. It might be a bit risky but if it works out you might have a pretty elite rotation and a young one at that.

[#3Killer]

Please no. Let’s go with the young guys. Let him go. 

[strumdatjag]

With Andrew Morris up at AAA St Paul and the group of young pitchers up at the MLB club, there is no reason to sign another 4-5 type starter to join Chris Paddack on the veteran side of the depth chart. 

[Hubie29]

We already have someone like him in the "Paddack".  

[Parfigliano]

53 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I would say it 100% depends on how SWR, Zebby, Festa, and Varland do the rest of this season.  If 3 of those 4 do well, then why would we sign him just to block these youngsters out?  If 3 or 4 of them have issues, and you can sign him to a cost-friendly contract, then it may make some sense.

Signing him to block a younger guy sounds like a very on brand move.

[Parfigliano]

32 minutes ago, Brandon said:

There is no such thing as a bad 1 year contract and you can never have too much pitching.  
 

I’m good with a split minor league contract. 4 million prorated when in the bigs with incentives to make it up to 8-10 million.  If he is pitching it’s because he beat out the rookies.  Or because depth is being tested and it’s better to have more arms available.  if he is here on a minor league deal and has to earn his spot , I don’t see why not.  
 

As far as the trade goes,  I had him ranked 2nd behind Gonzalez in terms of value in the trade.  I had him as a placeholder starter ahead of Topa but replaceable if a rookie earned it.  I thought he had the potential to be a solid starter.  But didn’t expect it.  The Twins have been linked to him in the past.  I could see them signing him to a deal this offseason.  

There are bad 1 year contracts when you're hacking payroll like TC knew they were doing.

[Parfigliano]

10 minutes ago, Hubie29 said:

We already have someone like him in the "Paddack".  

Sad and true.

[NotAboutWinning]

These articles are getting ridiculous.... then again, I did click on it 🤣

[Doctor Gast]

Resist & just say no!!!!!!! Lopez, Ryan, Ober, SWR, Festa & Matthews. You're not moving Paddack or Dobnak, Moving Vazquez would be suicide. We were lucky that the Twins didn't have DeSclavani limping out on the mound this season why would we want him back to take priority over our promising young prospects over the season? No way, that's ridiculous IMO!!!!!!!!!!! 

[D.C Twins]

Click  Bait... and I fell for it.... so while I'm here...

HELL NO!

[bean5302]

I can't imagine a scenario where it would be a good idea to sign Desclafani on anything other than a MiLB contract. A MiLB contract without an opt out? Sure. If the Twins have liked working with him, that's not an issue. So long as he's not taking up a spot on the 40 man.

[Vanimal46]

[Brandon]

44 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

There are bad 1 year contracts when you're hacking payroll like TC knew they were doing.

How about there are no bad minor league contracts?

[nicksaviking]

"No player slated to take on a full-time role should be dismissed and passively deemed a meaningless acquisition."

OK I'll start: Matt Schoemaker. 

Only one answer per poster please.

[Brett]

Andrelton Simmons

[jud6312]

34 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

"No player slated to take on a full-time role should be dismissed and passively deemed a meaningless acquisition."

OK I'll start: Matt Schoemaker. 

Only one answer per poster please.

Dylan Bundy