Matt Duffy
After opting out of his minor-league contract with the Rangers a few days ago, Matt Duffy has re-signed with the team on a new minor-league deal (per his player page on MLB.com). He was assigned to Triple-A Round Rock.
Duffy has never been able to live up to the high bar he set for himself during his rookie campaign with the Giants. He hit .295/.334/.428 with 12 home runs and 12 stolen bases that season, finishing as the runner-up for the 2015 NL Rookie of the Year. Still, he had a handful of productive seasons from 2016 to 2021. The righty batter made the most of his above-average contact skills to compensate for limited power; over 366 total games, he put up a .708 OPS and 98 wRC+. He also held his own at all four positions around the infield.
Unfortunately for Duffy, things have gone downhill over the last two seasons. He spent 2022 with the Angels and 2023 with the Royals, putting up equally disappointing offensive numbers each year. The veteran has continued to field all three bases serviceably, but his versatility has hardly been enough to make up for his meager bat. Duffy continued to struggle at the plate this spring, and the defending World Series champions were unable to offer him a job on their Opening Day roster. The spot he might have earned went to fellow NRI Jared Walsh; Walsh also had a rough couple of years in 2022 and ’23, but he significantly outperformed Duffy this spring.
Now, Duffy will report to Triple-A. With first baseman Nathaniel Lowe already on the injured list, Duffy provides Texas with some extra depth in case another infielder suffers an injury. Considering his versatility and extensive MLB experience, he could be one of the first names the Rangers call upon. Still, he has to start hitting again at Round Rock if he wants to make his way back to the Majors.
Want more articles like this? Follow MLB Trade Rumors on MSN to see more of our exclusive MLB content.
More must-reads:
Trending slideshow: Every MLB pitcher in the 3,000-strikeout club (Provided by Yardbarker)
News Related-
The best Walmart Cyber Monday deals 2023
-
Jordan Poole took time to showboat and got his shot blocked into the stratosphere
-
The Top Canadian REITs to Buy in November 2023
-
OpenAI’s board might have been dysfunctional–but they made the right choice. Their defeat shows that in the battle between AI profits and ethics, it’s no contest
-
Russia-Ukraine Drone Warfare Rages With Dozens Headed for Moscow, Amid Deadly Winter Storm
-
Trump tells appeals court that threats to judge and clerk in NY civil fraud trial do not justify gag order
-
Can Anyone Take Paxlovid for Covid? Doctors Explain.
-
Google this week will begin deleting inactive accounts. Here's how to save yours.
-
How John Tortorella's Culture Extends from the Philadelphia Flyers to the AHL Phantoms
-
Tri-Cities' hatcheries report best Coho return in years
-
Wild release Dean Evason of head coaching duties
-
Air New Zealand’s Cyber Monday Sale Has the 'Lowest Fares of 2023' to Auckland, Sydney, and More
-
NDP tells Liberals to sweeten the deal if pharmacare legislation is delayed
-
'1,000 contacts with a club': Tiger Woods breaks down his typical tournament prep to college kids in fascinating video