Dodgers to decline Danny Duffy's club option

The Dodgers are declining their $7M club option on left-hander Danny Duffy, reports Anne Rogers of MLB.com. There’s no buyout, and the veteran hurler heads back to the open market.

There wasn’t much suspense with this decision, as Duffy hasn’t thrown a major league pitch in a year-and-a-half. The longtime Royal was off to a strong start to the 2021 campaign, pitching to a 2.51 ERA through 61 innings. He suffered a flexor strain and was on the injured list as the trade deadline rolled around, but L.A. nevertheless acquired him from the Royals. He suffered a setback and didn’t pitch that year, and he underwent surgery over the offseason.

The Dodgers signed Duffy to a $3M guarantee over the winter, hoping he’d contribute as a reliever for the stretch run and into the postseason. Unfortunately, he suffered another setback while attempting to rehab in the late summer and didn’t get back to the majors. Duffy’s year and a half in the organization didn’t result in him taking the mound in Dodger blue.

Duffy has a career 3.95 ERA, but he may have to conduct a showcase for teams this winter to demonstrate his health. He turns 34 years old in December.