SF Giants sign former Twins reliever to minor league contract

The SF Giants signed former Minnesota Twins reliever Cody Stashak to a minor-league contract this week and assigned him to Triple-A.

The SF Giants signed former Minnesota Twins right-handed reliever Cody Stashak to a minor-league contract earlier this month and assigned him to Triple-A Sacramento this week. Stashak appeared in the majors with the Twins in every season from 2019-2022 but underwent shoulder surgery last June and was subsequently non-tendered. Unable to land a deal with an MLB organization, Stashak recently made his return with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League.

Twins reliever Cody Stashak delivers a pitch against the White Sox. (2022) / Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

When healthy, Stashak's arsenal has aligned with the Giants' breaking ball-heavy approach to middle relief under president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. Stashak's fastball has consistently sat in the low 90s, never averaging more than 91.9 mph in a full MLB season. Without premium velocity, Stashak has leaned on an impressive slider, which he threw more often than his heater in 2021 and 2022.

The Twins drafted Stashak in the 13th round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of St. John's University. A starter in college, Stashak continued to develop in the rotation before he reached Double-A. Once he arrived in the upper minors, though, Stashak began appearing in more abbreviated outings as a reliever. He was incredibly effective and forced his way to the majors by 2019.

Stashak was immediately effective in the big leagues, posting a 3.24 ERA (3.01 FIP) with 25 strikeouts and just one walk in 25 innings pitched (18 appearances). It was the beginning of a consistently effective tenure in Minnesota for Stashak, but one that would be hampered by injuries.

Stashak has not made more than 20 appearances in a year since 2019, given a limited workload in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign before a back injury sidelined him for most of 2021. Then, he tore his labrum last June. Despite the injuries, Stashak has a solid career 4.38 ERA (2.98 FIP and 4.16 xFIP) in 72 innings pitched (55 games) with 83 strikeouts and 14 walks.

The Giants did not wait long to pounce on signing Stashak once he appeared in an independent league. He made just two appearances with the Barnstormers, striking out four of the seven hitters he faced across two perfect innings of work before he signed with San Francisco.

While the terms of Cody Stashak's contract with the SF Giants have not been disclosed, it would not be out of character for the team to sign him to a two-year minor league contract, guaranteeing him an invitation to big-league spring training in 2024. With less than two months left in the regular season, that would allow Stashak to begin ramping up against upper minors competition once again before a true big-league audition next year.