The New York Yankees bolstered their starting pitching depth this week by signing veteran right-hander Anthony DeSclafani to a minor league contract, assigning him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, per the team’s transaction log.
DeSclafani, 35, last pitched in the majors in 2023 for the San Francisco Giants, making 19 appearances (18 starts) with a 4-8 record and a 4.88 ERA, while striking out 79 batters over 99.2 innings.
He had his best season with San Francisco in 2021, posting a 9-9 record and a 3.17 ERA over 31 starts, along with 152 strikeouts in 167.2 innings. Originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB Draft, DeSclafani was traded to the Marlins in a 12-player deal in 2012 and made his MLB debut with Miami in 2014. Later that year, he was dealt to the Reds, where he spent most of his career from 2015 to 2020. In 112 appearances (110 starts) for Cincinnati, he recorded a 4.19 ERA over 623.1 innings. He owns a career 4.20 ERA.
Yankees sign veteran RHP Anthony DeSclafani to minor league deal – Yahoo Sports
DeSclafani is attempting a comeback after missing the 2024 season due to elbow surgery. He was with the Twins organization last year following a trade from the Giants.
The Yankees’ rotation has been hampered by injuries, including Gerrit Cole’s season-ending Tommy John surgery and setbacks for Luis Gil and Marcus Stroman.
Yankees sign veteran Anthony DeSclafani to boost starting pitching depth – The Athletic
While Max Fried and Carlos Rodon have anchored the staff, inconsistency has plagued the rest. Seven pitchers have started games this season, with mixed results: Will Warren has a 4.61 ERA in nine starts, Carlos Carrasco was DFA’d after posting a 5.91 ERA, and Clarke Schmidt has a 4.73 ERA over five starts.
Though DeSclafani begins in Triple-A, he’ll aim for a return to the big leagues and hopes to contribute to the first-place Yankees (25-18).
