PHILADELPHIA — Matt Duffy’s cell phone buzzed all day Monday with text messages from teammates and friends saying goodbye and wishing him well. Brandon Belt was one of them, and he tried to point out a silver lining for the new Tampa Bay Ray.
“I wished him the best of luck going over there, and told him there’s no state tax there, so that’s good,” Belt said, smiling.
Duffy’s former teammates and coaches all felt the same way a day after a blockbuster trade, with a couple saying they hope Duffy turns into a perennial American League All-Star and one joking that Duffy should do all he can for the Rays and then return to the Giants as a free agent.