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

[Linus]

45 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.

I love this. 

[Linus]

The Polanco trade has been the gift that keeps on giving for Twins Daily writers. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

2 hours ago, CCHOF5yearstoolate said:

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. 

This! 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

2 hours 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.  

Anthony DeSclafani is exhibit 1 that there is such a thing as a bad 1 year contract.

we’ve seen dozens of Anthony DeSclafanis over the years, and I can’t recall ever being relieved that we got them.

Randy Dobnak is already Anthony DeSclafani, and I don’t want another one

[Hubie29]

Rocco Baldelli.  Lucky us has turned into 5 years. 

[Brandon]

24 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Anthony DeSclafani is exhibit 1 that there is such a thing as a bad 1 year contract.

we’ve seen dozens of Anthony DeSclafanis over the years, and I can’t recall ever being relieved that we got them.

Randy Dobnak is already Anthony DeSclafani, and I don’t want another one

I think at this point DeSclafani would have to sign a minor league contract.  He would also likely spend the first month or two on the DL and ramping back up.  if our young guys are doing a great job, We don't have to bring DeSclafani up.  He would be Keuchel type insurance.  I don't see the downside to that.  If another team wanted to offer him a major league deal, then of course we don't sign him.  You never get through a season with 5 starters so having a 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th available is always advisable.  I also want to remind you that we had to keep Shoemaker on the roster an extra month because our 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th starters in the minors were all hurt.  We had no one to replace him with.  We are low on starting pitching options now.  I'm surprised we haven't resigned Keuchel for depth the last few weeks as it seems Rich Hill is going to Boston.  

[jmlease1]

Minor league deal, with no promises or promotion? Sure. I'd be perfectly happy to have him stashed in saint Paul as injury insurance. but I have no interest in signing any starters that we can't be confident of them raising the ceiling on the rotation. Unless their better than Ober, Ryan, or Lopez...no thanks. And DeSclafani isn't better than any of those guys, healthy or not.

Yes, injuries will happen. Yes, the 2025 Twins will have to run out somewhere between 7-10 starters. But I'd much rather have SWR, or Festa, or Matthews as the 5th guy in the rotation than DeSclafani, who is 34 now, and has been neither good nor healthy since 2021.

It's a poor use of limited resources, because roster spots are just as precious as dollars.

Absent a trade, our rotation to start 2025 is going to be Lopez, Ober, Ryan, Paddack, and one of Festa/SWR/Matthews/Varland. how does that get better with DeSclafani in the mix? If he's rehabbing in AAA...maybe. Otherwise, no.

[Brandon27]

No think zebby matthews or Festa can take his spot 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

He's from my hometown. The library here has an exhibit dedicated to Desclafani. So from that standpoint, I was excited when the Twins traded for him. I just don't see where he fits in when you hopefully have Pablo, Ober, Ryan, SWR, Festa, and Zebby.

[Major League Ready]

57 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Absent a trade, our rotation to start 2025 is going to be Lopez, Ober, Ryan, Paddack, and one of Festa/SWR/Matthews/Varland. how does that get better with DeSclafani in the mix? If he's rehabbing in AAA...maybe. Otherwise, no.

I think SWR is a solid bet to be in the rotation at the start of 2025.  Then, I would like to see Matthews do so well they give him the final spot and trade Paddack this off-season.  The 2025 rotation is Lopez / Ryan / Ober / SWR and Matthews with Festa / Varland / Morris for depth.  

[ashbury]

5 hours ago, CCHOF5yearstoolate said:

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. 

This is accurate.  But even in the absence of financial constraints, there's always the opportunity cost of a 40-man spot being taken if better opportunities are available.  If he's signed after Spring Training begins, he can of course go straight to the 60-day IL and make room for that other player, while he goes through some kind of "rehab" regimen to be ready when an injury opens up a spot for him.  Or if he's willing to sign here on a minor league contract - but I expect some desperate team will give him a guaranteed contract.  If we have to carry him during the winter in favor of, say, one more Rule-5 eligible prospect, my interest in him is nil.

The article points out several ways that payroll space could be freed up, but doesn't convince me that he's the guy to spend such savings on.

As for the idea elsewhere in the thread that he was slotting in for us as a fifth starter when the trade occurred, my OCD kicks in and I reiterate a personal view that there is no such "role."  Fifth starter is a very temporary spot on the roster, either for a youngster on his way up and about to take some other starter's job, a youngster who may not make the grade and will soon be back in St. Paul, a veteran trying to show he's still got it, or a veteran on his way to being DFAed and perhaps lost on waivers with no regrets.  It would be a very solid pitching staff indeed to be able to carry a "pretty good" starter all season in a clear fifth-man role - rare to the point of not being worth discussing.

He does have a track record as a successful starter "when healthy."  But "fool me twice, shame on me."  Go fool some bottom-feeder team this time, and maybe they get lucky with a shiny trinket to trade at the deadline.

[South Dakota Tom]

I admit I don’t know what rehab from this surgery looks like but the Twins should know better than anyone whether he’s doing the work.  That, to me, is the tipping point.

is he doing everything in his power to be effective or is he hoping to milk one more middling contract out of some unsuspecting club? 

[DocBauer]

"Don't click, don't click, don't click....DANG...I clicked!"

Lopez, Ryan, Ober, SWR, Paddack all locked in right now. Varland might just move to the pen full time and begin as a 2 inning option with the potential of being special. That STILL leaves Festa and Matthews as the 6th and 7th arms ready to go. Right behind them will be Morris, Lewis, and Culpepper not far behind. Maybe Nowlin as well? (He might jump to the pen and make it quickly as a result). 

Where does Disco fit?

IF Paddack is moved to clear his rather small $7M deal, that $ could be better used for a better version of Margot...instead of just trusting enough improvement from Martin...and/or a solid BP from either side. Vazquez isn't going anywhere, and he shouldn't. 

This is just such an obvious NO it's hard to believe an OP was even written about the possibility. But sure, as others have said, if he wants a MILB deal to rehab and prove his worth with a split deal that offers him $4M if he makes it back, why not. But that's it. 

[mikelink45]

Did I miss the header?  Is this one of those comedy postings?  Or this sarcasm?  Maybe an addition for the Michael Rand replacement - I hear he is going to be a free agent and we never sign those. 

[old nurse]

15 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Anthony DeSclafani is exhibit 1 that there is such a thing as a bad 1 year contract.

we’ve seen dozens of Anthony DeSclafanis over the years, and I can’t recall ever being relieved that we got them.

Randy Dobnak is already Anthony DeSclafani, and I don’t want another one

Dobnak did not sign a one year contract.. Dobnak might be the best reason why not to sign a back of the rotation starter to a long term deal. Dobnak is a great reminder how injuries can affect a career. Dobnak is also the great reminder of how the great store for fans becomes tar and feathers

[old nurse]

Dallas Keuchel is on his 5th team after it appeared his career was finished. On a minor league contract> Pitching is thin in the major leagues. Pitching is thin in the minor leagues as well  Gunkel and Tozak prove that. Sorry if the names are misspelled 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, old nurse said:

Dobnak did not sign a one year contract.. Dobnak might be the best reason why not to sign a back of the rotation starter to a long term deal. Dobnak is a great reminder how injuries can affect a career. Dobnak is also the great reminder of how the great store for fans becomes tar and feathers

Dobnak got 3 years 10M. That was a great contract for both sides. Dobnak still has options, unlike Disco

what I mean is:

1) Dobnak is down to his last year in 2025, essentially a 1 year $2.25m deal

2) they get their outs very similarly, sinker mix, Pitch to contact, tons of base traffic. 
 

3) I trust their effectiveness about the same. Similar WHIP, ERA, etc, Dobnak is a bit more trustworthy on the injury front being a year further removed, but much shorter track record.

[yeahyabetcha]

Maybe a little off topic, but what about looking at trading Lopez?

[Major League Ready]

38 minutes ago, yeahyabetcha said:

Maybe a little off topic, but what about looking at trading Lopez?

We are not there yet but it would be great if we developed enough starting pitching to make that a good move.  

[Major League Ready]

The famous outburst from John Mcenroe (you can't be serious) comes to mind. 

[David Maro]

This FO seems to think they are smarter than everyone else.They sign dead arm pitchers hoping they will pitch someday.The Polanco trade was a salary dump with 2 broken down pitchers in return.The list of broken down pitchers is so long it is hard to remember all their names.Why sign him when you can let another team have him on their IL next year.We already have numerous pitchers on the IL for the rest of this season and for the start of next season.

[saviking]

No

[Fred]

16 hours ago, old nurse said:

Dobnak did not sign a one year contract.. Dobnak might be the best reason why not to sign a back of the rotation starter to a long term deal. Dobnak is a great reminder how injuries can affect a career. Dobnak is also the great reminder of how the great store for fans becomes tar and feathers

Hey, they're going to have to replace Dobnak after next season. Desclafani should be healthy by then. Seems like a no-brainer. 😄

[old nurse]

20 minutes ago, Fred said:

Hey, they're going to have to replace Dobnak after next season. Desclafani should be healthy by then. Seems like a no-brainer. 😄

DeScalfini might retire before taking a minor league contract for an age 35 season. Dobnak is the one more likely to sign one