Kansas City Royals ink Danny Duffy to five-year, $65 million deal

The Kansas City Royals agreed to a five-year, $65 million contract with left-hander Danny Duffy on Monday.

The 28-year-old Duffy will remain with the team that chose him in the third round of the 2007 draft.

Duffy could have become a free agent after the 2017 season, his final year of arbitration. He will make $5 million this season, $14 million in 2018, $15.25 million in 2019 and 2020, and $15.5 million in 2021, according to multiple reports.

Duffy started the 2016 season in the bullpen before transitioning to the starting rotation. He set career highs in wins (12), starts (26), innings pitched (179 2/3) and strikeouts (188), while also leading Royals starters in ERA (3.51).

The Royals were 17-9 (.654) in his 26 starts. His 12-3 record (.800) matched Larry Gura in 1978 for the best single-season winning percentage in Royals history (minimum 15 decisions).

"Danny has been great. He has one of the best arms in all of baseball," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said earlier this offseason. "The fact that he's left-handed makes him more special and separates him even more. He's the kind of pitcher we all envision."

Duffy won 10 straight decisions from June 11-Aug. 21 of last season. He held left-handed batters to a .183 average in 2016, fourth best in the American League.

In six major league seasons, all with the Royals, Duffy is 36-33 with a 3.71 ERA in 134 appearances (106 starts). He went 1-0 with nine strikeouts in six appearances during the 2015 postseason, including three World Series outings.