On Monday, September 15, 2025, the Arizona Diamondbacks designated former San Francisco Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani for assignment.
Should he clear waivers — which appears likely — DeSclafani is expected to be released later in the week.
His lone season in Arizona was a difficult one. Over 13 appearances (including four starts), he logged 38.2 innings with a 5.12 ERA, surrendering 37 hits and 11 home runs.
DeSclafani spent three years with the Giants from 2021 to 2023, with his debut season in San Francisco marking the peak of his career. That year, he went 13–7 with a 3.17 ERA across 31 starts and led the majors with two complete-game shutouts.
Injuries hampered his following two seasons, but many Giants fans still have a soft spot for “Disco.” If a reunion with San Francisco helps him rediscover his form, it would be a welcome comeback story.
Does A DeSclafani Reunion Make Sense For The Giants?
Ironically, even with how rough DeSclafani’s season has been, he may still be a stronger option than some of the Giants’ current starters.
With injuries and trades thinning out the rotation, San Francisco is left with five pitchers competing for the back-end roles: Kai-Wei Teng, Carson Seymour, Carson Whisenhunt, and Tristan Beck. Statistically, DeSclafani’s ERA this year outperforms all of them except Whisenhunt.
Of course, pitchers like Whisenhunt, Teng, and Tidwell bring far more upside than the 35-year-old veteran, making it clear the Giants should continue investing in their younger arms. It also seems unlikely the team would call on DeSclafani for a last-minute spot start with just 10 games left—that would be a desperate move, and one that would suggest little faith in the prospects. Still, if playoff hopes outweigh development, there’s an outside chance they reach out to “Disco,” though it would be a dramatic turn.
A more realistic scenario would be a reunion next spring. DeSclafani could be a sensible non-roster invitee to camp, giving him a shot at a rotation spot or a minor league deal. Depth has been a glaring weakness for the Giants this year, and if DeSclafani is willing to fight for a role, he might be worth the gamble.
After all, Justin Verlander has shown at age 42 that late-career rebounds are possible. It may not be too late for Disco to write a similar chapter.
Who Will Start Next For The Giants?
The San Francisco Giants are set to kick off a crucial four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend at Dodger Stadium by sending out their top arms, Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, who will face Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Clayton Kershaw.
After Webb and Ray, however, the Giants still need starters for the final two games of the series. Kai-Wei Teng is the likely choice for Saturday, September 20, but the fourth game presents more uncertainty.
Carson Seymour had been filling that rotation spot but struggled, and Tristan Beck made a one-off start on Tuesday, September 16, that didn’t seem like a long-term solution. If either Carson Whisenhunt or Blade Tidwell return to health, they’d likely slot in there.
Another possibility is rookie Trevor McDonald, who could be in line for his first big-league start.
Meanwhile, Justin Verlander is lined up to pitch the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, September 22.
So the big question for Giants fans is: how should the team address its ongoing pitching depth challenges?
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