Danny

Duffy

Duffy was released Wednesday by the Rangers after forging a 5.50 ERA and 17/17 K/BB ratio over 18 innings. The 36-year-old will get a chance to work in Mexico, and a strong showing in that league could see another chance with a major-league club.

The 35-year-old southpaw had been stationed at Triple-A Round Rock where he posted a 5.50 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and a 17/17 K/BB ratio over 18 innings. Duffy hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2021 season with the Royals. It’s unclear if he has another opportunity lined up already, or if he even plans on seeking one.

All three were in Rangers camp this spring as non-roster invitees. Duffy is the highest profile name of the group, but hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2021 due to injuries.

Even after the lost year due to flexor tendon surgery, it’s surprising that Duffy is taking a minor league deal, especially with a team that has no room in the rotation for him. Perhaps Duffy is willing to make the switch to the bullpen; it’s something he was considering doing last year if he made it back from surgery, though the plan was for it to be a short-term change. The 34-year-old left-hander has started 204 of his 234 games as a major leaguer, going 68-68 with a 3.95 ERA (110 ERA+) in 11 seasons with the Royals. He was traded to the Dodgers in mid-2021, but he hasn’t pitched in the majors since.

The 33-year-old southpaw never wound up throwing a pitch for the Dodgers after undergoing flexor tendon surgery in October of 2021. He nearly made it back in September, but was pulled off of his rehab assignment due to another flexor tendon issue. He’s now free to sign elsewhere.

Duffy doesn’t seem to have suffered a re-injury of his flexor strain, but rather he’s just not bouncing back as hoped. The Dodgers have a $7 million option on him for 2023, although that seems likely to be declined.

Duffy scattered one hit and required just 16 pitches (11 strikes) to navigate a scoreless frame. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw, who is working his way back from last year’s left elbow flexor strain, has allowed just three runs on four hits with a 6/2 K/BB ratio across 3 2/3 innings (four appearances) for Triple-A Oklahoma City since August 31. There’s a chance he’s finally ready for his Dodgers debut sometime this month.

Duffy looked pretty sharp in his first two rehab outings with OKC, but the wheels fell off for him in this one. Still, what’s most important is that he continues to experience no discomfort in his surgically-repaired left arm. The 33-year-old could finally be an option for the Dodgers at some point down the stretch.

Well, this is a fun surprise. There were reports earlier this week that Duffy had suffered a setback in his rehabilitation process from last October’s surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon, but the veteran left-hander is apparently feeling well enough to pitch in a minor league setting. He hasn’t made an appearance in the majors since last July, but has a shot to make it to Los Angeles before the end of the regular season.

Duffy advanced to facing live hitters at the end of July and was nearing a minor league rehab assignment, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Tuesday that it is now “pretty unlikely” the 33-year-old left-hander will be an option down the stretch. He required surgery for a torn flexor tendon in October and hasn’t appeared in a major league game since July 16, 2021 with the Royals.