Kansas City Royals: Destinations for Danny Duffy
By David Hill
With teams in need of starting pitching, and little left in free agency, the Kansas City Royals could have a prime opportunity to move Danny Duff.
This is not how the story was supposed to go with Danny Duffy. He and Yordano Ventura were expected to carry on the Kansas City Royals newfound winning ways, leading the franchise into the next decade. The dynamic duo were expected to be the Royals next pitching stars, players that the team could build around.
Unfortunately, that did not happen. Ventura tragically lost his life in a car accident, and the Royals never recovered. Duffy, who had enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2016, failed to recover as well, struggling at times in 2017 before taking a major step back the following season
The 2019 campaign was somewhat positive, as Duffy began to look like himself once more. He posted a solid 4.34 ERA and a 1.309 WHiP over his 130.2 innings, striking out 115 batters while issuing 46 walks.
In theory, Duffy could be a part of the Royals next run to relevance. The problem is that he is signed through 2021, at which time Kansas City may just be starting to emerge from their rebuilding project. Chances are, he will not be a part of the next winning stretch for the Royals. But he could still make an impact, in terms of the talent that he brings back.
With little left in free agency, and several teams still hunting for solid options for their rotation, the Kansas City Royals have an opportunity to deal Danny Duffy. Let us take a look at some possible trade partners.