The Diamondbacks have acquired left-hander Zach Duke from the Pirates in exchange for a player to be named later, according to an Arizona team press release. The player to be named later is "a mid-level prospect" who can't be named due to the roster freeze leading up to the Rule 5 draft, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. If this player is actually taken in the Rule 5 draft, Piecoro says the Bucs and Snakes "have agreed to other players" to be dealt to Pittsburgh.
Duke, 27, was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh last week following a rough 2010 that saw the southpaw post a 5.72 ERA in 29 starts for the Bucs. A lifetime Pirate, Duke has a career 4.54 ERA in 160 games (159 of them starts) and a 1.88 K/BB ratio in six major league seasons. He provides Arizona with a veteran innings-eating option for their rotation, though his career-high 1.4 HR/9 last season might be of greater concern if he's going to be pitching at Chase Field.
Piecoro reports that the D'Backs will try to sign Duke to a contract worth less than his $4.3MM salary in 2010, and if the two sides can't come to an agreement by the tendering deadline, Duke will be non-tendered. (Both Twitter links)
Oh God, if I go to University of Arizona I’m going to have to deal with this guy even more.
Go to the community college Pujols went to here in missouri, the place creates superstars.
Go to University of Wisconsin and be like the Commish. He got a Master in Pimpin’ and a PH.D. in Running MLB
Finish your sentence.
“Running MLB…into the ground”.
Most parity and we making money.
“Most parity and we making money.”…in spite of Selig. A 10 year old girl who couldn’t name one professional sports team could probably do the job with similar results.
Hey give him credit the wild card was a good idea!
nope, you’ll be in tucson.
if you went to the real baseball school here though, you’d be going to asu…
Knowing how intimidating you can be at times, I’m praying that you go to Oxford, Miami of Ohio, or even Georgetown.
Oh I wish I could get into Oxford or Georgetown, but my SAT scores weren’t that good. I’ve looked at Miami of Ohio, but they don’t have what I want to major in.
Come with me to Pace University
Ian Smell/SPAN combo is as good as it gets. Especially in NYC
Right now I’m pretty much open to going anywhere, so Pace is definitely a possibility. 😉
Sounds good. You have a month to decide where to go. (seriously I think right?)
Just curious, sorry if this is too personal, but do you guys play baseball, or do you just love the game?
Both. I’m hoping to play in college next year. That would be awesome. I might be working for the Fisher Cats next summer as well. I’m hoping that will happen!
That’s awesome, I hope you’re able to play in college. What position do you play?
Thanks man much appreciated. I’m a pitcher, but I’m really a thrower. Do you play? And you should definetly major in sports management or something like that. You know your Baseball dude. I didn’t know you were a high school senior. There are so many of us young guys on here
I don’t play anymore. I played over the summer, but that’s the last I’m going to play. I considered sports management, but I think I’m going to go into Film/Television studies.
Nice man! Obviously I wish you the best of luck. Although, if you ever make a movie or star in a TV show, make some sort of signal about me. Just like wear a Denard Span shirt. Yes? Thanks!
I will seriously do that if I am ever given the opportunity.
And in return, you get as many autographs as you want.
It’s quite clear that you love the game. Their is no question about that. Good luck in both college and with the fisher cats.
Thanks man! I really appreciate it! I’m going to keep pushing towards my goal!
cannot wait to c u playing in the big leagues
Hopefully that will happen. Thanks man I really appreciate it!
I don’t play anymore, I just follow it.
Yeah most of the deadlines for the colleges I’m applying to are around January/February.
honestly dude, i work for the u of a – and went to asu…asu has way better film/television options at this point. you’ll be downtown, close to chase field and all the hot ladies…tucson is the armpit of arizona.
I think I’m going down to Arizona to check out U of A sometime this year, so I might check at ASU while I’m down there.
Come to URI!!
I know were small, and were trying to be more an Academically focused, but if your’re a good player, you can really stand out.
Duke would have been a good one to light a fire under Kyle Loshe
The Player to be named later is Justin Upton!!!!
Just in from the Commish. This is not true.
Hmm, could the PTBNL be Tony Abreu? Seems like it would make sense.
Anyway, okay pickup. Maybe he can be better with the D-Backs.
Would make sense because all Dodger cast-offs end up in Pittsburgh…?
Abreu is valued very highly in Arizona, therefore, I would be shocked to see him acquired for the mediocre at best Zach Duke. Towers has Prioritized the bench and bullpen, to see him deal our top bench player would be a step backward.
I guess it’s just my lack of knowledge of AZ, then. I didn’t know that Abreu had been so valuable off the bench.
Best news since nam fir bucco fans!
Player to be named is marK reynolds
I assume the PTBNL has zero upside, since giving up anything of value for a player who would cost only money in a matter of weeks is dumb.
Not even a few weeks, but more like a few days. Basically, the DFA sped up the timetable, meaning the Pirates had 10 days to trade or pass Duke through waivers(assignment to the minors or unconditional release).So, after a few more days, if no one else had traded for him, he either would have a)been given his unconditional release, becoming a free agent or b)been outrighted to the minors, and if refused, he becomes a free agent as well.Which makes for a head scratcher as to why Arizona is going to send a PTBNL to Pittsburgh, especially if they non-tender Duke anyway.Also, I wonder if we’ll see several more non-tender candidates given a DFA over this Thanksgiving weekend just as Duke was, as teams try to get something in return for the DFA’ed players before giving up and releasing them. Just a thought.And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here. 🙂
The article says that Zach Duke was a lifetime Pirate, but I thought he was on the Expos. …must have been thinking of Zane Smith. At this point, Zach should aspire to be as good as Zane. Lol.
Or did you meant Zach Day?
Remember when he was the man in his first call-up?
Diamondbacks bolster rotation, acquire all star pitcher
Fortunately this means the Dodgers won’t acquire him. Now Ned can concentrate on acquiring a REAL turkey before tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Day deadline.
Duke will fit in with the D-Backs spirit.Losing.
Every year there are always pitchers who breakout someway or another…He might be one of those guys. Actually I change my mind…But Arizona is at least a pressureless situation in some way shape or form. I’d be interested to see how Dan, Barry, Jarrod, and Ian benefit from his presence.
And Pittsburgh wasn’t pressureless?
You try not cracking on the mound as dozens of fans are in attendance hoping that they can scoop up the top draft pick.
Jarrod had Tommy John surgery he will be ready probably on 2012
No, he’s been on a mound for about 3 months now
Aww man! I loved watching Votto hit against him every few weeks.
Damnit i was hoping he could compete for our 5th starters job in philly
He’s gonna get killed in that hitter’s park..
Hope the PTBN is Eric Smith… URI ALLUMNI!!!
Not one of the better prospects. No way it’s Smith.
Really?? I didn’t know he was coveted. I thought his stats were bad in the second half.
They were, but it was after a promotion and doesn’t change much. His stats may have been bleh, but his sinker was still fine. He’s a top-25 guy in that system.
Nick’s article appears to indicate that the player is Rule 5-eligible. This means it’s Wes Roemer, Evan Frey, Mark Hallberg, or Bryan Henry.
Guys for those of u who don’t know i’ve seen managers throw better stuff at batting practice, he has no business pitching at the mlb level,i’m just glad the pirates finally realized it and let him go.
one more thing,in other words he’s like the great ian snell,a big turd!
Don’t mind this at all. Aside from HR/FB and BABIP, his metrics looked basically on par with what he does in his career. Get a few grounders, keep the ball in the zone, allow a ton of contact, and soak up innings. You can do a lot worse for a #4/#5 starter. Heck, the dude’s a year removed from accumulating 4.5 WAR over two years. With the cost being a no-future prospect, I see no reason why not.
I’m kind of luke warm on this. Duke in Chase isn’t a good fit. He must just have bad luck, pitching for the Pirates and now going to a bandbox. I realize he doesn’t have much upside anymore but it seems like he could have some success if he pitched for a good defensive team in a big ballpark. Sure, anyone could have success to some degree in that setup but Duke could use that kind of an environment to get his career back on track. I don’t see that happening in AZ.
Well assuming the PTBNL has zero upside most likely isnt the case. Both organizations must feel as though he could get taken in the Rule 5 draft if they exchanged additional names if such an event took place. Just thinking out loud here, but it makes sense that the player will be as described..”mid level prospect”
Duke is going to get creamed in that park you might as well just practice your best homerun call. It said mid level prospect so im guessing 25-30 ranked prospect in there system.
I am not sure why the thoughts are that the PTBNL will be a low level/minimum upside prospect. Last year when the Pirates released Matt Capps, there was a significant amount of interest in his services, and he was an excellent signing by the Nats, parlayed into an excellent trading chip with the Twins. I see the same/better potential upside in acquiring and/or signing Duke, off a down year. From the rumblings, there appears to have been more than a few teams wishing to add Duke as a possible starter this coming season for their teams. There was competition for his services (and would have been much more with FA status), and my suspicion is that Pirate management took advantage of this…. moving him to Arizona to receive a prospect of much greater potential than many would presume for the pitcher that Pittsburgh did not wish to pay for.
ehhIan KennedyJoe SaundersDan HudsonZach DukeBarry EnrightThis rotation could of been something if they didn’t trade Max Scherzer for Edwin Jackson.
How do you think they got Hudson?
Without the Scherzer trade, two of those five guys aren’t even on the team right now…
I could have been a contender. I could have been somebody! But instead, I’m just the Arizona Diamondbacks.
I have 2 sons under 2 years of age. I’m going to duct tape a baseball in their left hand. It seems to almost guarantee a job with a major league team.