Although veteran left-hander Danny Duffy was a fairly notable deadline pickup by the Dodgers back in July, the soon-to-be 33-year-old didn’t throw a pitch in Los Angeles following the trade. Acquired while on the injured list due to a forearm strain, Duffy suffered a setback while rehabbing with L.A. and never made it back to a big league mound.
The Dodgers and Duffy were both rather quiet on his outlook. The left-hander now reveals to Andy McCullough of The Athletic that after initially fearing what would’ve been his second career Tommy John surgery, he instead required surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his left arm. That procedure, performed in October, comes with a months-long rehabilitation process. Duffy is targeting June for a return to a big league mound and expects to pitch out of the bullpen in 2022 before hopefully moving back into a rotation thereafter.
Of course, the team for which Duffy will throw remains entirely uncertain. The left-hander hit free agency for the first time in his career at season’s end and did not agree to terms with a club prior to the expiration of the 2016-21 collective bargaining agreement. It stands to reason that either the Dodgers, who traded for him, or the Royals, who drafted and developed him, would have interest in bringing him back.
Then again, Duffy has a lengthy track record of big league success and ought to be of interest to a variety of contenders and non-contenders alike on a short-term deal. Most clubs figure to be interested on a one-year deal, though as we saw with Kirby Yates earlier in the offseason, its feasible that a team could try to lure Duffy on a heavily backloaded two-year arrangement.
Duffy appeared in 13 games for the Royals this past season, all but one of them as a starting pitcher. In 61 frames he notched a tidy 2.51 ERA, albeit with less-favorable reviews from fielding-independent marks like FIP (3.40) and SIERA (4.14). This season’s 93.8 mph average heater was his best mark since 2016, while his 25.8% strikeout rate was a narrow career-high mark over 2016’s rate of 25.7%.
stevewpants
Duffyduffyduffyduffyduffyduffy – Big Freedia
dray16
Injured pitcher with a mid-season return sounds like a Cubs signing to me
I Like Big Bunts
Why?
egrossen
I can see why you would say that, but only if it’s a 2 year deal prove it deal. 1 year makes no sense because they couldn’t flip him.
FredMcGriff for the HOF
Back to the Royals I’m guessing.
stewartnbuck
not if the Angels sign him 1st. Arte Moreno loves signing pitchers who are broken down
dodgergreg
Duffy is a great guy who has had a lot of success. He deserves a shot. Might be a nice pick up.
padam
Could see the Mets plugging a hole on the cheap for the second half+. Solid lefty as a 4 or 5 in the rotation when healthy.
top jimmy
Mets make sense here. They have no lefty relievers, so they could actually use him in their bullpen this year like he wants to be used. After 2022, deGrom, Walker, and Carrasco can all leave as free agents. Duffy might be able to replace one of them in the 2023 rotation.
justacubsfan
Maybe some team signs him to a 2 year backloaded deal with a team option after first year. I honestly wouldn’t expect him to contribute this year at all.
sdfriarfan
Potential Padre pick up and Niebla reclamation project
D E
Duffy and Hoz are friends. After seeing the way Hoz has been trashed in SD, there’s NO WAY Duffy would play there.
"Not" Rick Hahn
I’ll over pay for him!
Rsox
Maybe back to the Royals to rehab with a training staff he knows and trusts
Kruk it
Duffy would be nice pickup for Phil’s,he and a 2nd half return by Eflin would help Phillies late season swoons
niedenfuer92
This is a twins signing through and through
dodgerskingsfan
dodgers were his team growing up as a kid. i could see the dodgers bringing him back.
BlueSkies_LA
It works that way? Duffy might have found a place in the Dodgers plans late last season had he been able to pitch, but I don’t see where he fits in now. Seems to me, that’s how it really works.
Bjoe
Back to Kansas City!
paddyo furnichuh
Insert *this team should/would/could sign Duffy for possible 2nd half production * here.
This insight is due to: a rumbling in my stomach; what team I may or may not be a fan; and something I heard someone tweet .
GareBear
“Bury me a Royal”
kreckert
Let’s just hope they will be games in June.
smuzqwpdmx
The bright side is he could be ready by opening day, if it comes late enough.
brucenewton
Injured and old. Yankees will look to add him.
chace alexander
This feels like an Astros kind of signing, where they get him for cheap coming off an injury and he helps as a end-season innings eater to get them in a better playoff spot.
9lives
I doubt the season will even be close to starting at that time.
TLB2001
He will either sign with the Royals or a Southern California team.
Not sure if he’s a fit for the Padres, but I could see him staying in Southern California and going to play with Hosmer. They’re close.
DonOsbourne
The Angels have never met an injured pitcher they didn’t like.
positively_broad_st
At his age and history of average(ish) performance, he should switch to relieving full-time…
rdf922
Say he signs a 2 year deal…any guess on terms?
Orioles Fan
Would be worth the shot for the Orioles. Take a chance and it might just work out for them.
Orel Saxhiser
An interesting note about Duffy: With Buster Posey now retired, there are currently 182 players who played in at least 10 MLB seasons and spent their entire MLB playing career exclusively with one franchise. Duffy has a chance to join them if he re-signs with the Royals, even though he was traded to another team and continued playing later on.
powerboat9
Perfect for Mets rotation, but would be a smart move. The organization will screw up again. Love Scherzer , that contract is ridiculous !!!!
geoffb1982
This has Farhan’s name written all over it