Danny Duffy was fantastic in 2021 with the Kansas City Royals, posting a 2.51 ERA in 12 starts and 61 innings.
He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers that year, but was injured and didn’t pitch.
The Dodgers re-signed Duffy for the 2022 campaign with an option for 2023.
After undergoing flexor tendon surgery in October of 2021, he wasn’t healthy enough to return at any point this past season.
He was close in September, but was eventually pulled off of his rehab assignment due to another flexor tendon problem.
All things considered, the Dodgers paid Duffy not to pitch.
Now, they are officially declining his 2023 club option, as he is prepared to enter free agency.
Duffy Is Entering Free Agency
“The Dodgers declined Danny Duffy’s option for 2023, per source, making him a free agent. Former #Royals pitcher didn’t pitch in 2022 because of injuries,” Royals insider Anne Rogers tweeted.
The Dodgers declined Danny Duffy’s option for 2023, per source, making him a free agent. Former #Royals pitcher didn’t pitch in 2022 because of injuries.
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) November 9, 2022
Duffy, a stalwart in the Royals’ mid-2010s rotation that went to two straight World Series, will be 34 when spring training rolls around next year.
Not only that, but he hasn’t pitched since 2021, and teams will need to see how the ball comes out of his hand before committing dollars and a roster spot to a veteran pitchers with a lot of miles on his left arm.
Duffy hasn’t given any signs that may indicate he wants to retire, so the focus for him should be getting healthy, and then go from there.
If he is healthy, he will find a team that believes in his talent because he can be a very good lefty reliever, or a backend starter.
As it happens with every player who has been injured for a lot of time, he will first need to show his arm is healthy, though.