KC Royals: The 2021 trade deadline, 2 weeks later

Second move: The KC Royals trade Danny Duffy to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Danny Duffy, well known around Kansas City for his long-professed desire to spend his entire career there, turned out willing to go elsewhere after all. He waived his “10 & 5” rights, which as a veteran with 10 years of major league service time, the last five with one team, entitled him to veto trades. That opened the door for the July 29 deal that sent him to the Dodgers, and his home state of California, for a player to be named later.

So far, the surprising transaction hasn’t worked out well for Los Angeles. In fact, it hasn’t worked out for them at all. Duffy, who was having a superb season for the KC Royals when he was healthy (4-3 with a 2.51 ERA), was on the 10-day Injured List when the Dodgers acquired him; Monday, the team moved him to the 60-day list. Because his time on the first list counts also on the 60-day, Duffy is eligible for reactivation in mid-September. By then, though, the 2021 season—and LA’s stretch run—will be almost over.

Through Friday, the Dodgers lead the National League Wild Card race by five games. They obviously want Duffy’s help, but his left flexor will determine how much, if any, he can give them.