The Cardinals announced that they have acquired left-handed reliever Zach Duke from the White Sox in exchange for minor league outfielder Charlie Tilson.
[Related: Updated Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals Depth Charts]
Duke, 33, is pitching well in the second season of a three-year, $15MM contract signed with the White Sox prior to the 2015 campaign. He currently leads the American League with 53 relief appearances, though he’s clearly been deployed in a largely specialized role, as he’s totaled just 37 2/3 innings in those 53 contests. Duke has posted a 2.63 ERA with 10.0 K/9 against 3.8 BB/9 and a 58.8 percent ground-ball rate. While Duke has been used in left-on-left matchups with great frequency, he’s held right-handed opponents in check this season (albeit with the help of a .238 BABIP). He’ll give the Cardinals some needed bullpen depth and join Tyler Lyons and Kevin Siegrist as a third left-handed option for manager Mike Matheny.
Duke is earning $5MM this season — of which about $1.78MM remains — and is owed $5.5MM for the 2017 season as well. Cardinals fans may recall Duke from his days with the Pirates, but he reinvented himself as a reliever with the Brewers in 2014 and parlayed a brilliant season with Milwaukee into his current contract. Since that 2014 breakout, Duke has a 2.87 ERA with 10.4 K/9, 3.7 BB/9 and a 57.2 percent ground-ball rate.
Tilson, meanwhile, ranked 10th among Cardinals prospects on Baseball America’s midseason update of the organization’s top prospects and 12th on MLB.com’s version of the Cards’ top 30. BA writes that he has some of the best speed in the organization and strong contact skills but bottom-of-the-scale power. MLB.com agrees, noting that he’s selective at the plate, can bunt for hits and is capable of hitting to all fields but lacks pop. Tilson has the speed and range to play center field, and both reports indicate that he can be at least a fourth outfielder in the Majors, if not an everyday player whose game is geared toward speed, contact and defense.
Jeez, so many trades!
love it!
Now we’re heating up MLBTR!! HERE WE GO!!!!
Lucy Ewing? The complete tear down begins for the Sox. LOL j/k. You know those clowns are going to embark on a half assed “retool” in the offseason b/c “this core can compete” in 2017. The three yr plan is only in year 2. Stretch, TWTW.
Relief pitchers are on the move today!
one deal down! hope many more to go. Hahn rebuild this team
Agreed, the Sox should be also moving: Frazier, Robertson, Lawrie, Cabrera, Shields, and Abreu before moving Sale or Quintana.
The biggest move that should be done is removing Robin as manager though.
Lucroy vetoed the trade by the way.
Duke is a nice little pick up. Very underrated, “Cardinals” type pickup
Mediocrity for the Sox isn’t new, they’ve been mediocre for a decade already…maybe Kenny finally gave Hahn his balls and is going to actually let him do his job.
Either Kenny gave Ricky his “balls” or Kenny finally realized how he impeded the White Sox organization with his poor decisions after the 2006 season. I hope this is not the last trade the Sox make before the deadline.
sale took kenny’s balls with him on his 5 day vacation
Better not be, I see the Sox being able to trade at least 6 guys before even getting to Quintana and Sale. The other move sorely needed is to remove Ventura as manager or it does not matter what you get in return in these trades.It is also KW, and his ego’s, fault that Robin has been foisted on the club and fans for the past 4 years.
yea, but none of those 6 guys will bring much.
The White Sox have numerous trade chips with varying degrees of value to a contending team besides Chris Sale and Jose Quintana. They include short term veteran pieces like Todd Frazier, Melky Cabrera and Brett Lawrie who are controlled through 2017 along with David Robertson and James Shields who are signed through 2018.
Recently signed FA Justin Morneau may even have some value now that he has his timing back after a long layoff following surgery. He is beginning to resemble the .300+ hitter with some pop that he demonstrated as a Rockie in 2014 and 2015.
Longer term assets like Jose Abreu and Adam Eaton may also be in play if the organization elects to do a full scale rebuild rather than their customary retooling.
Good pickup Cards!
Great trade. Tilson was blocked anyway with Piscotty, Grichuk, Pham, and possibly Hazelbaker and Holliday in front of him and Bader on his way up.
And so starts the 2016 salary dump. This is not a rebuild. This is a Jerry reinsdorf salary dump for marginal-at-best prospects
Charlie Tilson is a very fun player to watch. I hate to see him leave the StL Cardinals organization. However, he is blocked from the majors by the likes of higher ceiling talent (Grichuk, Piscotty, and next, Harrison Bader) I wish Tilson all the best, nice prospect.
Do you know anything about him defensively? He’s put up two solid seasons offensively at 2-3 years younger than AA and AAA competition.
If he can catch the ball, is there anything stopping the New Trier grad from occupying the 9-hole in August and September?
To be honest, I think he is probably the most MLB ready hitting prospect that StL had. He should be up soon. His defense looked above average in Spring Training…and MAN can that guy fly! He has a set of wheels on him. If I made a comparison, I would say he could be a faster Jon Jay, which is pretty solid.
he will be up on Tuesday against the Tigers
With his OBP and base running skills, Charlie Tilson would be an immediate candidate for the lead-off spot on the White Sox, at least versus right-handed starting pitching. Adam Eaton would be a good candidate in the #2 spot with his speed, high OBP and decent pop while rookie Tim Anderson might be better served hitting #9 until he can improve his on base skills. Either way, the White Sox would have plus speed in the batting order,at #9, #1 and #2.
which is something we need bad. if we can deal for another speedster I would be thrilled
Yeah, if JR would wake up and stop buying KW’s BS he would realize the problem lay more at the manager’s feet for the past 4 years of poor play and decision making on the field. They need Robin gone now or it does not matter who you get back in return.
It’s bigger than Robin. Let’s not forget Jerry had to talk Robin into taking the job in the first place. This an organizational problem, starting at the top with the owner.
“Talk Robin into the job” — because calling CWS games on ESPNU is obviously more appealing than being a major league manager.
It obviously was at the time. This is a widely reported fact. Robin was not interested and initially turned down the job. Read or research before you post lazy comments
Yes. Jerry Reinsdorf was as responsible for Robin Ventura’s hiring as anybody in the front office. The organization as a whole wanted their next manager to be the “anti-Ozzie Guillen”.
I don’t like it. Not that they don’t need relief help and Duke is fine, would have preferred Robertson, but I don’t like giving up a speed and contact guy when they have no speed or contact. I’ve liked what I’ve seen of Tilson, and with no production in CF this season Tilson should have got a look. I understand Harrison Bader has passed him up on the prospect list, but Tilson still has talent. He has been compared to Brett Gardner with less power and better defense….so basically Jason Heyward, without hype.
I’m a fan of Tilson as well, however, the organization can’t keep all of the players. I wish him the best going forward. Hopefully he will be an excellent piece for the Sox.
Not sure if this is a right move for my Cardinals, but let’s see if my Cards bullpen improves.On the other hand, I asked myself did we/Cardinals give a lot by trading Charlie Tilson to acquire Zach Duke.
That is the question. No doubt Tillson has value. He is player who slots in as a fourth outfielder. Speed, contact, and good defense. But the Cards cannot complete this move without some sacrifice. Similar move the Cards made with Cleveland for Ramsey. But since the Cards are flush with outfielders, Tillson was expendable.
No, you/cardinals did not
Top 10 prospect (organizationally) seems a lot to get Zach Duke. But ten again I may still be biased after living through his Pirates tenure of ineffectiveness.
I would agree if he were a rental. I believe he has another year at a reasonable cost for a solid/dependable reliever. But if this player is as good as our Cardinal posters are saying, great. If he’s more in line with a Jerry Owens, well, you know the rest.
I will be surprised if Tilson gets any better. Not because he cannot, but because the Sox minor league managers and instructional coaches are so inept they cannot even make guys like this in the Sox org to begin with (even though Kenny Williams was moving up to ‘address the minor league system’.. that was 4 years ago and the Sox still have one of the worst orgs in the minors). The Sox need to clear house with the broom, remove Kenny, remove Buddy Bell, remove Steverson and remove Robin or this org is going to be mediocre for years to come and then they may as well trade Sale and Quintana becasue they are just wasting time here.
Charlie Tilson will be promoted to the White Sox MLB roster before he spends a day in the White Sox minor league system. After an off day on Monday, Tilson will be added team to the White Sox 25-active roster on Tuesday prior to their game in Detroit.
Veteran OF/CF J.B. Shuck was optioned back to AAA on Monday to make room for Tilson.. The Winnetka, Il. native will be given the first opportunity to win the 2017 starting CF job in August and September. With Shuck’s departure, the White Sox have no other player on their current active roster capable of playing CF other than their regular starting RF, Adam Eaton. Since the White Sox failed to acquire a corner OF by Monday’s trade deadline, Eaton will remain as the primary RF, a position he has excelled at defensively in 2016.
Btw-Austin Jackson, who was the White Sox starting CF before his injury in June, is recovering much slower than originally expected. His ETA from the DL is still unknown. Jackson will be a FA after the season. He only inked a one year deal with the White Sox during spring training.
Nice move. I wasn’t expecting them to go after a lefty, but in a way it makes sense, since it gives them a true lefty specialist that allows both Siegrist and Lyons to focus on their primary roles (primary setup man and long reliever respectively).
Unlike 2015, Zach Duke has actually been more effective against right-handed hitters as a White Sox reliever this season, making it even harder on an already confused manager when it came to late game bullpen decisions.
Charlie Tilson likely will become the White Sox starting CF shortly, at least versus right-handed pitching. He joins the organization as yet another position player who’s best tool is speed. He is a solid contact hitter with good OBP and base running skills as well as a plus fielder, albeit with an average arm at best. He profiles as a potential MLB caliber starting CF or as a solid 4th OF. The fact that he was the Cardinals 12th ranked prospect and now becomes the White Sox #5 speaks volumes of their weak farm system.
Hopefully this will be the beginning of a bigger sell-off, at least with shorter term veteran assets that still include David Robertson, James Shields, Todd Frazier, Brett Lawrie and Melky Cabrera. That, along with needed changes in the front office (Kenny Williams), manager and coaching staff (Todd Steverson). Don’t stop now boys!
You are going to have to lower the asking price if you want to move Shields. I heard the price started at a top 5 prospect, plus a couple more guys. No way given the money owed and horrible performance
It all depends on which pitcher another organization feels they are getting in Shields Is it the guy who was lit up at an historic rate just prior to and after his trade to the White Sox in early June or the effective career inning eating horse he seemingly has become again…and was to start the 2016 season.
It should also be noted that the Padres are responsible for the bigger portion of Shields remaining contract through 2018, provided he doesn’t opt-out after this season which would only be a potential outcome if he continues his strong pitching through year’s end. San Diego is responsible for $11M of the $21M owed Shields in 2017 and 2018, while his current club would be responsible for the $16M option or $2M buyout in 2019. Theoretically, the White Sox might be willing to pick up some of their contract liability over the next two seasons which could result in a greater return for Shields.
Btw-In addition to James Shields, the White Sox might also have a potential trade candidate to “flip” in veteran starter Miguel Gonzalez by Monday’s deadline. Like Shields, Gonzalez has pitched very effectively in July but comes with a much lower price tag.
Gonzalez was released by the Orioles just prior to the start of the season. They were responsible for a portion of his previously negotiated arbitration salary ($1,254,098) while I believe the White Sox are currently paying him at a or near the MLB minimum. Gonzalez still has one more year of arbitration eligibility remaining in 2017 for any team that might be interested in trading for him this season.
Just like every year, the competition makes bold moves while the Cardinals front office goes out and makes one move for a reclamation project. After seeing all the trades made by teams in contention without having to give up much it appears the Cardinals front office had no intention of improving but rather just surviving.