As Los Angeles Dodgers trade rumors centered around Max Scherzer at the deadline last season, the team’s first move on the pitching front was to acquire Danny Duffy from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for a player to be named later.
L.A. eventually sent Minor Leaguer Zach Willeman to the Royals to complete the trade. Duffy was on the 10-day injured list at the time of being sent to L.A. as he was recovering from a left flexor strain that had kept him out of action since the middle of July.
The Dodgers and Duffy were optimistic he would make a full recovery in the weeks ahead, but that never came to be. Then the Dodgers hoped he would be able to return to the mound in September, but Duffy failed to make it through a throwing session at Dodger Stadium due to a left elbow issue and was shut down for the remainder of the year.
Despite never throwing a pitch for the Dodgers, Duffy has re-signed a one-year contract that includes an option for 2023, according to Robert Murray of FanSided:
Free-agent pitcher Danny Duffy in agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year deal with an option, pending physical, according to a source familiar with the situation. First to mention talks: @Feinsand.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) March 18, 2022
Duffy is the third pitcher to re-sign with the Dodgers this offseason, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Nelson and Shane Greene. Nelson, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and a flexor tendon repair, also returned on a one-year contract that includes a team option for 2023.
Meanwhile, Greene is back with L.A. on a Minor League deal with a non-roster invite to Spring Training.
Duffy is also on the mend as he underwent flexor tendon surgery during the offseason. He recently pointed to June as a target date for his return and made it clear there wasn’t any intention of retiring.
Duffy devastated when Dodgers traded Piazza
A Southern California native, Duffy grew up rooting for the Dodgers and attending games at Dodger Stadium. However, one of his memories includes being heartbroken when the Dodgers traded Mike Piazza to the New York Mets in 1998.
“I’d always try to go when Mike Piazza came back,” Duffy recalled. “Whether he was with the Mets, or two and a half week stint with the Marlins, we were all over that if he was going to come back. We always made it down there when he was with the Mets.
“Gosh, I cried my eyes out when he got traded. Him and Zeile, for Bobby Bonilla, Gary Sheffield, Manny [Barrios] and Jim Eisenrich. That was a tough couple days in my childhood, so that can paint a picture about how I felt about the Dodgers growing up.”
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