Dodgers near deal to bring back Danny Duffy

Left-hander Danny Duffy and the Dodgers are closing in on a deal, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Thursday night. The club has not confirmed the news.

Elbow problems limited Duffy to 61 innings (13 appearances, 12 starts) in 2021, and though the Dodgers acquired him via trade from the Royals midseason with the hope he’d be able to help them down the stretch, the veteran left-hander didn’t throw a pitch for Los Angeles before becoming a free agent.

Duffy had a 2.51 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over the 61 innings he pitched this past season, and has had stretches of success during his 11-year career. But from 2018-20, he was slightly below average on the mound, with a 4.68 ERA (97ERA+.) over 63 appearances (62 starts).

Danny Duffy has passed his Dodgers physical, source said. He is expected to return around midseason and pitch out of the bullpen. The deal contains a club option for 2023 that is worth $7 million that can become $10 million if he pitches 15 games and 15 innings this season.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) March 18, 2022