The D-backs announced that they’ve signed infielder Daniel Descalso to a one-year deal and designated fellow infielder Phil Gosselin for assignment in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. FOX’s Ken Rosenthal tweets that Descalso will be guaranteed $1.5MM in his new deal — a $1.35MM salary for the 2017 season plus a $150K buyout on a $2MM club option for the 2018 season.
The 30-year-old Descalso spent the 2015-16 seasons with the division-rival Rockies, and while he batted a woeful .205/.283/.324 across 209 plate appearances in 2015, he did have a rebound campaign in 2016. Last year, the left-handed-hitting Descalso batted .264/.349/.424 with eight homers and three steals in 289 plate appearances, moving into a larger role following Trevor Story’s season-ending injury. Prior to his time with the Rox, Descalso was a fixture on the Cardinals’ roster from 2010-14, appearing in 529 games and posting a cumulative .243/.313/.341 batting line in just under 1400 trips to the plate.
Descalso will give the D-backs a left-handed bat to help balance out a predominantly right-handed roster, and he’ll also provide manager Torey Lovullo with some defensive versatility on the infield. While Descalso doesn’t grade out as a plus defender at any of the four infield spots, he does have more than 1000 innings at second base, third base and shortstop as well as 170 innings at first base in his career.
As for Gosselin, the 28-year-old has spent the past season and a half in Arizona, hitting a combined .283/.338/.409 316 plate appearances. While Gosselin’s bat has been better than that of Descalso over the course of their respective careers, he’s primarily a second baseman with more limited experience at third base and at shortstop.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Well, that move doesnt make much sense. Very similar players in terms of offensive upside and descalso graded worse on defense than gosselin did. So not sure why the Dbacks made this move. Gosselin seemed to be an adequate back up player for cheaper.
Probably just the very slight advantage to having a left handed hitter over a righty.
That and Descalso’s experience at shortstop, I’d imagine.
Descalso seems to torch the Dodgers every time he plays against them for whatever reason. I was kind of hoping he’d move on to the AL
It’s funny how our minds work. Descalso’s career line against the Dodgers is 255/300/355.
Stats don’t tell the whole story. If you ever saw this guys with the Cards in the playoffs you would now what I’m talking about.
Career Descalso postseason stats: 214/247/310. Against LA: 2 singles in 8 at bats, No RBI or extra base hits.
His career line against the Dodgers: .255/.300/.355/.655.
Basically the same as his overall: .242/.315/.352/.667.
[Hah. Simultaneously posting the same answer!]
I’m not sure on numbers but Descalso was at least perceived as a clutch hitter. Maybe against the Dodgers I know we’ve had some big matchups with them. Maybe that’s where that comes from.
Descalso was good last year, but it was probably due to playing half his games in Denver. 92 ops plus only, but I guess that’s alright for a backup middle infielder
I believe Gosselin led the league or at least the NL in pinch hits last season. Obviously other factors contributed to that but he seemed to come off the bench well and provide solid play. Maybe they just wanted a lefty bat.
I really enjoyed Gosselin last season as a utility player/pinch hitter. He provided us some unforgettable hits. I dislike the fact that they designated him but hope it’s for the best.
Did somebody let Tony LaRussa pick up the phone again?
Larussa has no business being in the front office. He was completely overrated as a manager and a complete failure as an executive.
I liked what I saw of Gosselin. I understand the thinking of LHH and a bit more flexibility, but IMO that is negligible and I wouldn’t have made this move.
Bizarre move. Gosselin played well in that utility role.
@braves95 He plays more positions than Gosselin and bats left handed. What is so bizarre about that I’m confused?
It’s time to play… WHEEL… OF… UTILITY INFIELDERS!!!!
Who in their right mind gives Descalso a guaranteed Major League contract at this stage of his career?
I’m not really sure how Descalso got a major league contract at this point. He doesn’t have terrible defense, but his offense never really picked up.
Speaking as a fan, I wish Daniel well at Arizona! We sure do miss him being in St. Louis. Very hard worker. Plays beyond his abilities at multiple positions. Not a super star but a great clubhouse person and a valuable asset on the field.