KANSAS CITY -- The Trade Deadline deal that sent veteran lefty Danny Duffy to the Dodgers in late July was completed Wednesday evening, when Los Angeles sent Double-A right-hander Zach Willeman to Kansas City as the player to be named. The Royals also sent cash at the time of the trade.
The Royals announced the deal on Twitter shortly before the Dodgers played the Braves in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium.
Willeman, 25, appeared in 33 games for Double-A Tulsa this season, posting a 3.78 ERA across 47 2/3 innings. He struck out 59 compared to just 23 walks and held opposing batters to a .232 average. The Dodgers drafted Willeman in the 19th round of the 2017 Draft out of Kent State.
Duffy, a free agent after the World Series ends, was traded to the Dodgers for potential pitching help in the postseason, with L.A. aware that he was recovering from a left flexor tendon strain. But the 32-year-old suffered a setback and won’t throw a pitch for the Dodgers -- he cited left elbow pain during a bullpen session on Sept. 10 and was shut down from there.
With Duffy’s injury as the backdrop -- he approved the trade to the Dodgers at the Deadline -- the Royals and Dodgers agreed on a group of players the Royals would choose from for the player to be named later.
Willeman was assigned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday.