KC Royals: 3 things Danny Duffy’s return could mean

Finally, there came definitive news Tuesday concerning Adalberto Mondesi, the KC Royals’ shortstop whose continuing war with injuries has forced him out of all but seven of the club’s games this season. The Royals activated him from the Injured List so, although he didn’t crack the lineup against Detroit, he’s back.

Thus ended days of speculation and angst about Mondesi, but a major Royal question remains.

When will Danny Duffy return?

Duffy was enjoying his best season in years (4-3, 1.95 ERA) before a left forearm flexor strain drove him to the IL in mid-May. The news was surprising, and Duffy quickly offered assurances that the injury was nothing more serious. The club’s frequent updates on Duffy haven’t included a definite timeline for his return.

And as Alec Lewis, KC beat writer for The Athletic, reported Tuesday, Duffy’s return to duty remains uncertain:

What does seem certain, though, is that Duffy will be back sometime this season, perhaps even this month. What happens to him when he returns?

Duffy’s injury means the KC Royals probably won’t be trading him in July.

One key to predicting Duffy’s Kansas City future is his expiring contract which, coupled with his excellent work this season, should have General Manager Dayton Moore’s phone ringing when the July trade deadline nears. But Duffy’s injury changes the bargaining equation and may dampen other clubs’ enthusiasm.

Flexor strains often precede Tommy John Surgery; there isn’t any publicly-known evidence suggesting Duffy’s strain puts him on the verge of TJS, but teams will now be more cautious and less likely to jump on a deal for him. While reluctance might be less if Duffy’s post-return pitching matches his pre-injury performance, it won’t disappear, and other clubs might not be willing to give up what the Royals need to let Duffy go.

So, don’t expect KC to trade Duffy next month.

The KC Royals might decide it’s time to shift Duffy to a different role.

Thinking of Danny Duffy as a relief pitcher is nothing new. Indeed, speculating that he will, or should, move to Kansas City’s bullpen is an annual affair for media and fans. Recurring injuries and durability—Duffy’s pitched over 150 innings only twice in his 11-year career—underlie the suggestions that relieving suits him better than starting.

And Duffy is no stranger to the pen. His career relief appearances are far from rare.

Duffy pitched most frequently out of the KC Royals’ bullpen in 2016, when he made 16 relief appearances in 42 games with an 0-0, 3.00 record. He relieved six times in both 2014 and 2015 and was 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA the first year, and 0-0, 0.00 in 8.1 innings, and earned his only big league save, in the second. He pitched two-thirds of an innings in relief late last season.

And he his strikeout rates in relief are excellent: 11.9 in 2014, 13.0 in 2015, and 10.5 in 2016.

Overall, he’s 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA, 1.086 WHIP, and an 11.3 SO9 in 29 career relief appearances.

Duffy’s successful times as a reliever are a few seasons old, but nothing suggests he wouldn’t be effective in that role now. His good track record and latest injury might tempt the Royals to move Duffy to the bullpen to spare him the rigors of starting and create some space in the rotation for one of the club’s talented young pitching prospects.

A change in assignment certainly isn’t out of the question for Duffy.