The Royals selected Duffey's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Kansas City had a spot on its 40-man roster open for Duffey after Jordan Lyles (personal) was placed on the inactive list over the weekend. Duffey, who made just one appearance at the big-league level in 2023 as a member of the Cubs, posted a 3.24 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over 8.1 innings across six relief appearances for Omaha this season.
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Royals' Tyler Duffey: Set to join big-league bullpen
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The Royals are expected to call up Duffey from Triple-A Omaha on Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Duffey will move up to the majors after compiling a 3.24 ERA and 10:5 K:BB over 8.1 innings with Omaha this season. The 33-year-old made just one appearance in the majors in 2023 and wasn't great with the Twins in 2022, but Duffey holds a career 3.99 ERA and 301:85 K:BB across 284 innings as a reliever at the big-league level.
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Royals' Tyler Duffey: Resumes pitching at Triple-A
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Duffey (back) has made two appearances out of Triple-A Omaha's bullpen so far this season, striking out four batters over three innings while allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks.
Duffey didn't pitch at all for the Royals during the Cactus League after Feb. 26 upon requiring surgery to remove a cancerous mole from his back. The medical issue derailed any hopes Duffey had of making the Royals' Opening Day bullpen, but fortunately, the 33-year-old has been able to resume his playing career in the minors after a relatively brief delay. He'll look to stack together more quality relief appearances at Triple-A with the hope of eventually receiving a call-up to Kansas City.
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Royals' Tyler Duffey: Sidelined after skin cancer procedure
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Duffey has been sidelined since Feb. 26 after having surgery to remove a cancerous mole from his back, MLB.com reports. He started light baseball activity Wednesday.
A suspicious mole on Duffey's back was diagnosed as melanoma during an exam early in spring training. Duffey hopes to pitch in games by the end of spring training, but it appears likely he'll begin the season on the injured list. He signed a minor-league deal with the Royals and is attempting to win a spot in the major-league bullpen this spring.
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Cubs' Tyler Duffey: Joins big-league club
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The Cubs selected Duffey's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The right-hander was cut loose by the Cubs in early June but re-signed on a minor-league deal a couple weeks later. Duffey posted a 4.91 ERA in 40 outings with Minnesota last year and had a 3.77 ERA over 45.1 innings at Triple-A this season.
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Cubs' Tyler Duffey: Gets NRI deal from Cubs
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Duffey signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Duffey has been given an invitation to major-league spring training, where he would seem to stand a decent chance of cracking the Opening Day bullpen. The 32-year-old posted a 4.91 ERA for the Twins in 2022 before eventually being released, but he held a 2.69 ERA and 174:48 K;BB across 144 frames for them from 2019-21. It's a fine no-risk signing by the Cubs.
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Yankees' Tyler Duffey: Catches on with Yanks
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Duffey and the Yankees agreed Wednesday on a contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Duffey will join his third organization of the season after his long run with the Twins came to an end earlier this month before he joined the Rangers for a brief pit stop, only to opt out of his minor-league deal with Texas just over two weeks later. The 31-year-old righty had turned in an unremarkable 4.91 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 44 innings in the majors with Minnesota earlier this season, but he delivered a 2.69 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 21.6 K-BB% across 144 frames from 2019 through 2021. Duffey is initially expected to report to the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he could be in the mix for a promotion to the big-league bullpen in the final month of the regular season.
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Tyler Duffey: Heads to open market
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Duffey informed the Rangers on Sunday that he intends to opt out of his minor-league contract, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Duffey's stay with the Rangers organization lasted just over two weeks, with the right-hander making four relief appearances at Triple-A Round Rock while striking out five over five innings and allowing one unearned run on five hits and four walks. His decision to pursue free agency likely was a result of Duffey not getting the impression that he was in line for a call-up to the Rangers when the 26-man active roster expands to 28 on Thursday.
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Rangers' Tyler Duffey: Gets minors deal with Rangers
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Duffey signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Duffey was released by the Twins on Monday after struggling to a 4.91 ERA in 44 innings this season. It's not surprising that he quickly latched on with another club, however, as he cruised to a 2.69 ERA from 2019 to 2021. A modest bounceback would make Duffey a useful option down the stretch for the Rangers, and a full return to his previous form would make him one of the team's best relievers.
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Tyler Duffey: Hits open market
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The Twins granted Duffey his release Monday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Duffey cleared waivers after the Twins designated him for assignment Friday, but rather than reporting to Triple-A St. Paul, he'll attempt to find work in another organization. Though none of baseball's other 29 teams were willing to put in a waiver claim on Duffey and take on the money remaining on his $3.8 million contract for 2022 while he had struggled to the tune of a 4.91 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 44 innings this season, his prior success in the majors should be enough for him to quickly catch on elsewhere at a more affordable price. After moving to a full-time relief role following the 2016 season, the 31-year-old Duffey produced a 3.99 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 18.0 K-BB% in 284 innings with Minnesota.
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Twins' Tyler Duffey: DFA'd by Minnesota
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Duffey was designated for assignment by the Twins on Friday.
The 31-year-old was a major bullpen piece for the Twins over the past few years with 47 holds entering this year, but he struggled in 2022 with a 4.91 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 39:15 K:BB across 44 innings. Duffey could remain in the organization if he passes through waivers unclaimed, though he could also opt to become a free agent.
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Twins' Tyler Duffey: Secures second save
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Duffey allowed a hit and struck out one to earn the save in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Rangers.
This was Duffey's second save of the year, and his only other one came May 16. Notably, Jhoan Duran gave up a solo home run to Corey Seager in the eighth inning. Save chances haven't been frequent for the Twins lately, and there's little clarity as to who the favorite for ninth-inning duties might be. Duffey has a 4.14 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB across 37 innings while adding two saves, nine holds and three blown saves in 33 outings, but he's been sharper lately with an active 13-inning scoreless streak.
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Twins' Tyler Duffey: Continues recent turnaround
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Duffey allowed no runs with no hits or walks while striking out four over 1.2 innings Thursday against the Guardians, and the addition of a changeup to his arsenal has contributed to his recent improvement, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Duffey has thrown nine scoreless innings over his last six appearances with a 8:2 K:BB. It's a stark turnaround after he began the season with a 6.38 ERA and 24:8 K:BB in his first 24 innings, a rough stretch that saw him relegated to low-leverage opportunities. Duffey has switched his pitch mix, relying less on a high fastball and using the changeup more frequently. He could return to a key setup role if he continues performing well.
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Twins' Tyler Duffey: Struggles again Tuesday
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Duffey allowed three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out two over one inning Tuesday against the Yankees.
It was Duffey's second poor outing in a row after he allowed three runs and a home run in two-thirds of an inning at Toronto on Sunday. Duffey has given up nine runs in his last 4.2 innings with 10 hits allowed and four walks. He may need to be used in some lower-leverage spots until he gets out of his recent slump.
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Twins' Tyler Duffey: Notches first save
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Duffey pitched a perfect inning against the Athletics on Monday, striking out one batter and earning a save.
Emilio Pagan has been the primary closer for Minnesota of late, but he pitched in three straight games over the weekend and was held out Monday. The Twins thus turned to Duffey with a two-run ninth-inning lead, and the right-hander came through with his first save of the season. Duffey hasn't allowed a run in his past six outings and is an important part of Minnesota's bullpen, but he doesn't figure to get many save chances going forward with Jhoan Duran joining Pagan in collecting a majority of the team's ninth-inning opportunities.
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Twins' Tyler Duffey: Picks up win in relief
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Duffey (1-2) earned the victory, striking out two in one perfect inning in a 2-1 win Friday over the White Sox.
Duffey entered the game in the top of the eighth inning with the Twins losing 1-0 and had his best outing of the season. Facing the top of the Chicago lineup, he struck out the first two batters before getting Jose Abreu to ground out. Minnesota scored twice in the bottom half of the inning to put Duffey in line for the win. The 31-year-old got off to a rocky start this season, blowing two saves in his first four appearances, but was called upon late in a close game and was rewarded with the victory when he got the job done.
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Twins' Tyler Duffey: Allows two home runs in loss
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Duffey (0-2) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in one inning in a 4-3 loss Tuesday in Kansas City.
Duffey gave up solo homers to Salvador Perez and Hunter Dozier in the sixth inning. With the Twins leading 3-2 when Duffey entered, it was technically a blown save, his second of the season. The 31-year-old has pitched in the sixth or seventh innings in each appearance since his blown save April 9. Minnesota has yet to have any pitcher record a save in 2022 and it is unclear who will be given those opportunities when they arise.
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Twins' Tyler Duffey: Blows save, takes loss
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Duffey (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits while striking out one over one inning in a 4-3 loss Saturday against the Mariners.
Duffey blew the save when Adam Frazier doubled home two runs in the ninth. The Twins did not name a closer to start the season and Duffey was the first reliever given the opportunity to record a save. Despite his poor showing in his 2022 debut, the 31-year-old should continue to receive late-game opportunities as he has been one of the best bullpen arms for Minnesota over the past three years.
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Twins' Tyler Duffey: Inks one-year deal
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Duffey agreed to a one-year, $3.8 million contract with the Twins on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Duffey recorded a 3.18 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 61:28 K:BB over 62.1 innings while recording three saves and 22 holds last season. He should enter spring training as a high-leverage bullpen option for Minnesota next year.
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Twins' Tyler Duffey: Picks up third save
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Duffey worked a perfect inning while striking out two en route to his third save of the season in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Cleveland.
With Alex Colome having picked up saves on three consecutive nights (and needing 49 pitches to do so), the Twins figured to head in a different direction at closer if the need arose Wednesday. As luck would have it, it did, and Duffey answered the call. He'll likely return to his setup role once the Twins feel that Colome is ready to go again.
