With starting pitcher Danny Duffy set to hit arbitration, he and the Kansas City Royals have reportedly begun contract talks.
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Royals, Duffy Reportedly Interested in Extension
Friday, Nov. 4
According to MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan, the Royals and Duffy have mutual interest, although general manager Dayton Moore declined to comment.
Moore did, however, offer the following statement regarding the organization's overall stance: "[It] has always been our intention to keep our young talent when possible."
After starting the 2015 season in the bullpen, Duffy went on to enjoy the best year of his career once he was moved to the starting rotation.
The 27-year-old lefty went 12-3 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 188 strikeouts in 179.2 innings overall. That included a 3.56 ERA as a starter.
Duffy has started at least 24 games in each of the past three seasons, and while injuries have limited him at times during his career, 2016 was easily his healthiest year.
After the loss of Johnny Cueto in free agency, Duffy emerged as KC's ace over the likes of Yordano Ventura, Edinson Volquez and Ian Kennedy.
He arguably possesses better stuff than any other pitcher on the Royals staff, and the fact that he is a southpaw makes him highly valuable.
Duffy is likely in line for a significant raise through arbitration from the $4.225 million he made in 2016, per Spotrac, so working out a long-term contract is a move that would be beneficial to both sides.
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