From One Bay to Another

Matt Duffy first drew attention as the youngest member of the Giants 2014 World Champions. After contributing to the team's third title of the decade, he took over the following year as the club's regular 3rd baseman a year later. He looked to be a star-on-the-rise, hitting close to .300 and driving in 77 runs. But midway through 2016, as San Francisco bid for its fourth title of the '10s, he was traded to the Rays for pitcher Matt Moore.
Tampa Bay has gotten the short end of that deal up till now. A month after joining the Rays, he underwent Achilles surgery -- a slow-healing injury that cost him almost all of 2017. But he now looks ready to replace Evan Longoria at the hot corner. Matt's hitting over .300 in Grapefruit League play and appears fully recovered.
After shedding many of its veterans, Duffy is expected to be a significant player for the younger (and less pricey) Rays.

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