Dodgers News: Danny Duffy Suffers Setback, Unlikely to Pitch This Season
It’s been almost 13 months since the Dodgers traded for Royals pitcher Danny Duffy at the 2021 trade deadline, and Duffy has yet to throw a pitch for this team.
As Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports, that’s not going to change any time soon.
Danny Duffy felt some discomfort when facing hitters in a recent live session, Dave Roberts said. “Pretty unlikely” he makes it back as an option this season.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 16, 2022
When the Dodgers acquired Duffy, they hoped to have him for September and October last year. That didn’t happen, and Duffy’s flexor strain eventually required surgery. The Dodgers re-signed him in March just after the lockout ended, inking a one-year deal with a team option for 2023. That option is for $7 million, and it seems unlikely the Dodgers will exercise that after paying him to not play the last season and a half.
Duffy was outstanding for the Royals last year before his injury, posting a 2.51 ERA in 61 innings pitched, so the Dodgers thought he was worth a flyer in a low-risk trade. His contract for this year was similarly low-risk — his $3 million salary is essentially pocket change to a team like the Dodgers. But even at low risk, you’d hope to get at least some reward, and thus far the Dodgers have received zilch on their Duffy investment.
Duffy was considering retirement after last season, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he pulls the trigger on that decision this fall. The Dodgers had hoped he would provide some starting pitching depth behind Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and Julio Urias, but that depth has instead come from Tony Gonsolin, Tyler Anderson, and Andrew Heaney. And now, the Danny Duffy era in L.A. might have ended before it ever really got started.
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Dodgers News: Cody Bellinger to Sit for a Mental Reset
At the trade deadline the Dodgers were banking on returning pitchers. Since then Buehler had season ending surgery and Kershaw was put on the IL, now we see this news about Duffy who has yet to pitch for the Dodgers after picking him up last season. Did the Dodgers count their chickens before they were hatched? Oh and then there’s loser Kimbrel who is a huge bust. I could be wrong, but the Dodgers should have picked up a starter. Yeah, yeah, I know our staff is doing amazing things, but they could be one major injury from the wheels falling off. I would have felt better had Roberts not caused Scherzer to sign with the Mets. Yeah, I said that cause he did.