The Cubs have signed infielder Matt Duffy to a minors deal, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. The pact comes with a $1MM major league salary and up to $500K in incentives.
The 29-year-old Duffy is best known for his time in the majors with the Giants and Rays from 2014-19. Duffy picked up 1,771 plate appearances during that stretch and hit a solid .282/.338/.380 with 22 home runs and 32 stolen bases. At his best, Duffy was a 4.4-fWAR player as part of the Giants in 2015, when he slashed .295/.334/.428 with career highs in homers (12) and steals (12) in 612 trips to the plate.
Duffy was a good producer as recently as 2018, though he struggled the next season during an injury-shortened year and hasn’t played in the majors since. He spent time with the Giants and Yankees on minor league contracts last season, but he wasn’t able to get back to the majors with either club. Primarily a third baseman, Duffy is now a member of a Cubs team with a clear starter there in Kris Bryant, though he has been the subject of trade rumors for a while and could move before next season begins.
Remember when Giants fans said this guy should have won ROY over Bryant in 2015? Good times.
remember when Cubs fans thought Bryant was going to be the face of MLB and that the Cubs would be a dynasty team? Good times.
Lol
Remember when the Yankees thought Miguel Andujar was going to be better than both Bryant and Duffy? Good times.
Good thing I’m not a Cubs fan.
You’re probably a Mariners fan
No my team won the World Series and has the best pipeline in baseball with unlimited resources. Not the Mariners.
Your team won a World Series?? Whoop whoop. So have the Cubs. So have the Marlins. Your mystery team is in awe inspiring company.
kcus comment of the year right there.
username checks out
I know, right? He won rookie of the year and then mvp–I mean, why think he was going to be so good? Then a world series! I mean, talk about delusional! insert eyeroll here…
Yet another Cub hater who apparently is more concerned with being a jerk about the Cubs than actually cheering on a team. What a sad life some of these folks live. It’s difficult to be constructive, quite easy to be critical (the twenty-two likes seem about right…this DB really sinks into the mud sometimes).
I remember not too long ago when Astros fans were making fun of Cubs fans for thinking they would have a dynasty, and assuming theirs would last in perpetuity; did not happen.
Remember when the Cubs actually did have a dynasty. Look up the definition while your at it. Sports Dynasty just to help. You can debate it all you want but they were a dominant team for multiple years. You’re not gonna see 5 championships in a row from any MLB team for a long time the way business is done in the MLB. Any team who’s won multiple divisions is a dynasty sorry to break the news. 2016 Championship was the best you’ll ever see thanks to 108 years of not having one. Nobody can top that World Series ever!!!!
Erik is that cub fan everyone loves talking baseball with. Dynasty’s are teams that win multiple championships not divisions. Blackhawks and Bulls are the only teams in Chicago that meet that criteria.
@kcusgnikcufsregdod
Destruction 100
Only talking heads said that. I never heard a single cubs fan say that.
I don’t remember anyone saying that about Duffy lol
Besides it being all in these comments, you can go to Google and find “articles” making the case
Good thing you mentioned google (the salvation of the weak). The mlbtr discussion boards are hardly worthy of being a credible source. Well, except for my posts.
Giants fans Lol.
Ol’ Garbage Grabbing Jed!
Trash Heapin’ Hoyer!!!
Rubbish russlin` Jeddy.
House arrest helpless Hahn
Tony’s dreaming of a white Christmas…oh wait. Take 2: Tony’s dreaming of a White Russian.
Cabbage fed Jed
If he’s healthy, which he rarely is, he could be a solid utility bench piece.
He’s played exactly 2 games in the field anywhere but 3rd since ‘16… I dunno if he’s gonna be a good utility guy.
At this point, I think he has a shot to play 3B semi regularly if they plan to move Kris Bryant to LF. David Bote also in the mix. This way they don’t have to spend money to replace Schwarber.
Sox fans who care more about the Cubs than the Sox in 3…..2……1……
……and Cubs fans don’t ever have comments about Sox news, right? There were thousands of Cubs fans whining & crying about 77 year old LaRussa just to think of a recent example. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones!
I don’t think Cub fans, or any baseball fans, were whining or crying about La Russa. If there were tears, it was from the absurdity of hiring him. I was looking forward to the Sox being a great team, they looked great last year, but that hire was a mistake.
Completely agree! When the story was all about an up and coming team they blew it and now it’s about an old drunk behind the wheel!
And I think that was the point he was making. That Cubs fans were trashing the Sox for the hire. His point was that trashing is not a one-way street between Sox and Cubs fans. It’s two-way. LaRussa is a case in point.
It wasn’t just Cub fans trashing the TLR hire. It was every fanbase.
antone: No,it was just the juvenile or “holier than thou” of various fan bases, or those that have nothing better to do than prop themselves up by criticizing others while being in denial of their own shortcomings.
@whoseyourmomma
The only fans I saw crying about the LaRussa hiring was Sox fans. No one else cares
I don’t even know who LaRussa is tbh
I had two glasses of wine . I’m just tired
It’s like Oprah today. You get a minor league deal! You get a minor league deal! Everyone gets a minor league deal!
Check under your seat because your getting a minor league deal too!
Duffy seems like he’s missed almost as much time as he’s played over the past several years. Still, given the uncertain roster for the Cubs Duffy could take Happ’s utility role if Happ ends up the starting Center Fielder
Happ is a lock in CF. Unless they somehow get michael Brantley to a 1 year deal Happ (who doesn’t get enough love) will move to Left. Michael Brantley can possibly be the lead off man they need.
Brantley cannot play CF… He hasn’t played a single inning in center since 2015 but he is a very solid defender in LF. I would love to have him replace Schwarber.
I was going to joke about the Matt Duffy signing but it’s a really nice move by the Cubs as a low risk depth piece. I think he is pretty insurance in the event that Hoerner needs to go to AAA for a little bit.
I don’t think the Cubs are comfortable enough inking in Nico as the everyday second baseman and I also do not think they feel his develop will be best served as a bench player.
As far as Happ is concerned, Happ gets plenty of love… I really do not think Happ needs to see lefties often, his on base is very solid but he swings a wet noodle from the right side. Plus he has a 30% K rate when facing southpaws. I would also prefer Happ to either bat second or deeper in the line up vs. leadoff.
Plays the entire infield and puts the ball in play. I’ve seen worse minor league deals.
No you haven’t.
“He spent time with the Giants and Yankees on minor league contracts last season, but he wasn’t able to get back to the majors with either club.”
Should read “Rangers and Yankees”
Correct
Honestly, nice little pick up. Not much to complain about here. Kinda wish my Braves could have made a deal like this for him. Kinda like him better than Camargo … idk
Yeah it’s not really a dumpster dive move. I’d love to have him in ATL. probably better than Mayfield.
No you wouldn’t.
It’s all prospective lolzmets. If he’s a cheap bench piece like this, this yes, we’ll gladly take him
Teams are avoiding the Xmas rush. Player are getting signed. Whoop Whoop
Duffy is best known for his large cat, Skeeter, who is now not with us. I think the cat weighed 27 lbs.
RIP Skeeter
Matt Duffy has a ring, which is something Ernie Banks and Ryne Sandberg don’t have.
And?
Duffy detractors need to relax. It’s a minors deal. The guy’s still only 29. If he doesn’t make the cut, no big deal.
Another “Groundhog Offseason”. Talk changes, cry poor, do little.
Just like David Dahl the guy could be a solid starter for most teams and turn in above replacement level production year in, year out. But also like Dahl he’s on the IL more than he’s on the field.
Cub fans you can thank little theo epstein for not peddling bryant sooner and now you have your new third baseman.
I like this signing for the Cubs,
Duffy reminds me of Chris Taylor.
I could see this working out well for them.
Is there a Cubs signing that Cubs fans DON’T like? You guys are a joke.
Joke or not, White Sox fans love to belittle and obsess. Sox are looking like a decent team, but their SP will be their downfall this coming year. 1 injury to that unit and there is nothing to help them. They are in a win now window and should trade prospects for starter depth but LaRussa will make sure everything is ok.
He did not spend time with the Giants last season. Probably want to change that part. Pretty sure it was the Rangers and Yankees.
Funny to see people still jealous of our championship. Is this butthurtness gonna last 108 years with all these other teams fanbase??
It’s all they have right now, the Cubs have had a tremendous run of success the past six seasons, 2 NLCS trips, 1 World Series title, 5 playoff appearances, 0 times under .500 and they still have a good enough roster to win the NL Central in 2021.