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Twins Sign Zach Duke

By Jeff Todd | December 29, 2017 at 7:01pm CDT

DEC. 29: Duke will receive $2.15MM, Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweets. Per Berardino, via Twitter, Duke can add $200K bonuses for making his 40th and 50th appearances, $300K at #55 and #60, and another $500K if he takes the ball 65 times.

DEC. 26, 9:05pm: Duke’s guarantee is “just over” $2MM and he can earn up to $1.5MM more via incentives, Berardino tweets.

5:30pm: The Twins have officially announced Duke’s one-year contract.

10:10am: 1500 ESPN’s Darren Wolfson tweets that Duke’s contract is a Major League deal that is expected to be worth between $1.5MM and $2MM. Minnesota’s 40-man roster is full with the addition of Duke.

DEC. 25: The Twins have agreed to a deal with veteran lefty Zach Duke, as KFAN’s Paul Lambert first tweeted. Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press confirms on Twitter, adding that the deal is still pending a physical. Terms of the arrangement aren’t yet known. Duke is a client of ISE Baseball.

Duke, 34, is coming off of a limited 2017 campaign. Despite undergoing Tommy John surgery in mid-October of 2016, he managed to bounce back in time to make 27 appearances for the Cardinals.

As might have been expected, given his rapid return, Duke showed some rust. He recorded only 5.9 K/9 and allowed far more hard contact (37.0%) than usual while posting a 3.93 ERA over 18 1/3 frames. On the other hand, the southpaw allowed only a .197/.284/.364 batting line to opposing hitters (with minimal platoon splits) and generated rates of swinging strikes (10.9%) and groundballs (50.4%) that were not out of line with the figures he has maintained in recent seasons.

[Related: Updated Minnesota Twins depth chart]

For Minnesota, the move gives the team a potentially solid second lefty to pair with Taylor Rogers at what will likely turn out to be a marginal commitment. If Duke can rebound to anything like the form he showed over the prior three seasons — over which he posted a 2.74 ERA with 10.4 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 over 180 1/3 innings — then he’ll surely represent a true bargain.

The Twins have already added Fernando Rodney to bolster a questionable late-inning unit. Perhaps, then, the organization will turn its focus to addressing other needs, though surely additional bullpen moves will at least be considered. The 2017 unit, after all, rated 22nd among all MLB teams by measure of both fWAR and ERA.

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Minnesota Twins Transactions Zach Duke

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View Comments (62)
Post a Comment

62 Comments

  1. SundownDevil

    7 years ago

    Zach Duke is an anagram for “Duck Haze”. I thought there would be more options, but that’s the only one.

    4
    Reply
    • SundownDevil

      7 years ago

      Well, “Zuckhead” as well now that I think about it.

      4
      Reply
      • Tom E. Snyder

        7 years ago

        THAT was uplifting.

        Reply
    • dynamite drop in monty

      7 years ago

      Did you know that in Duck Hunt for NES, the player 2 controller could control the duck?

      4
      Reply
      • mrperkins

        7 years ago

        The key was to get the duck behind the tree or the bush and then have it go in all directions. It was really only effective after level 10.

        1
        Reply
        • dynamite drop in monty

          7 years ago

          Fascinating. I feel like I really missed the memo on this as I just learned of it today.

          3
          Reply
    • JamieMoyer 4

      7 years ago

      I’m a fan of Duke Chaz, personally.

      1
      Reply
      • stug14

        7 years ago

        I feel both simultaneously smarter and dumber after having read this thread

        1
        Reply
  2. rxbrgr

    7 years ago

    Y’all @ MLBTR didn’t believe Meat Sauce when he reported it this morning it seems, and waited for a more national voice to confirm it.

    1
    Reply
    • twins33

      7 years ago

      He seems to be the Twins news breaker these days. Also had the Rodney signing.

      1
      Reply
    • dynamite drop in monty

      7 years ago

      I wouldn’t trust a report from an entity called Meat Sauce either. Maybe I’m old fashioned.

      8
      Reply
      • redsfan48

        7 years ago

        I mean, he even got credited by national writers as the first to report the Zach Duke signing, so I guess he’s becoming a fairly reliable source.

        Reply
  3. dirtbagfreitas

    7 years ago

    I’m thinking 1/4 with incentives plus a team or vesting option for a second year?

    Reply
  4. Chris Sale Amateur Tailor

    7 years ago

    we needed a second Lefty with Taylor Rogers in the pen this isn’t flashy but it will be cheap and keeps the door open for a bigger move

    Reply
  5. jd396

    7 years ago

    I got it one piece at a time, and it didn’t cost me a dime

    4
    Reply
    • tycobb016

      7 years ago

      well its a 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 automobile

      3
      Reply
  6. stymeedone

    7 years ago

    Napoli, Duke. Two names and two players who are so similar, it’s easy to understand how the writers were confused, and thought that Napoli was the one in serious talks.

    Reply
  7. Segovia3047

    7 years ago

    Is this the first time someone’s ever signed on Christmas?

    Reply
    • osfandan

      7 years ago

      There is literally an article posted today, with Christmas day transactions.

      5
      Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      7 years ago

      There was literally just a post from a few hours ago that answers that exact question

      1
      Reply
      • jd396

        7 years ago

        Somebody literally posted how there was literally a post about this literally three minutes earlier.

        18
        Reply
        • Michael Chaney

          7 years ago

          Great minds literally think alike I guess

          Reply
  8. icedog7229

    7 years ago

    What a great Christmas present the twins organization gave their fans

    1
    Reply
    • Solaris601

      7 years ago

      Right, and the card was signed “zzzzzzzzzzzzzz”. No need to interrupt your hibernation for this one, Twins fans.

      Reply
  9. HubertHumphrey

    7 years ago

    None of you were laughing when Dan Schaatzeder won game six in 1987.

    Reply
    • nymetsking

      7 years ago

      I was actually. Was listening to an old George Carlin tape.

      6
      Reply
      • Mattimeo09

        7 years ago

        Even in 1987 George Carlin had old material

        2
        Reply
        • HubcapDiamondStarHalo

          7 years ago

          And even his old material was relevant then and now.

          1
          Reply
    • Joe Kerr

      7 years ago

      I got pitching lessons from him as a kid, really nice guy. He was still driving his signing bonus roughly 10 years after his career. it was a Porsche.

      Reply
  10. Fuck Me Bitch

    7 years ago

    Same birth date as Joe Mauer. Meaning? Nothing. just noticed it.

    2
    Reply
  11. johnnyfang

    7 years ago

    The Twins are making a bunch of cheap, high-upside signings. Smart.

    1
    Reply
  12. card collector18

    7 years ago

    Merry Christmas

    1
    Reply
  13. johnnygringo

    7 years ago

    bottom of the barrel signings ,why not Mike Minor? Why not Jake McGee,why not Boone Logan? the Twins are on pace to reduce payroll for a 4th straight year

    Reply
    • hiflew

      7 years ago

      Mike Minor has already signed with the Rangers. Jake McGee has already re-signed with Colorado. Boone Logan is still available. Meat Loaf once said two out of three ain’t bad, but I’m sure he would agree that one out of three is.

      4
      Reply
      • etreuden

        7 years ago

        Boone Logan was said to be in agreement with the Brewers, but it never got announced. Something must’ve come up

        Reply
    • johnnyfang

      7 years ago

      I am positive they will sign a high-end SP. 50/50 it’s Darvish.

      2
      Reply
      • Caseys Partner

        7 years ago

        Twins need J.D. Martinez too.

        Reply
        • Pablo

          7 years ago

          Why? I’m fine with Buxton, Kepler, Rosario. It would be a waste of money. I know people are always questioning Kepler, but it was his first full season in the show last year. Give him a chance.

          4
          Reply
        • Chris Sale Amateur Tailor

          7 years ago

          exactly no need for a $140 million upgrade

          2
          Reply
        • Sky14

          7 years ago

          That’s not even remotely true.

          1
          Reply
        • davidcoonce74

          7 years ago

          Kepler was worth about 2 wins last year as a 24-year-old. That’s not bad at all. The Twins are a bit hamstrung by Mauer, who is a good hitter for a catcher but not really the kind of hitter you want at first base, but their real need is for pitching. I’d leave the outfield alone.

          1
          Reply
        • Sky14

          7 years ago

          He’s not your prototypical first basemen but Mauer was actually quite a bit above average last year, 116 OPS+. Not the superstar he was at catcher but hardly hamstrung, he had a 3.4 WAR last year.

          1
          Reply
        • Dodgethis

          7 years ago

          No they just need a few real pitchers. Hitting and fielding the twins are competitive. I’m not sure how the defense was this year but with a real ace the twins have the roster to make a real push.

          Reply
        • brewcrewer

          7 years ago

          but was he 23 mil good?

          Reply
  14. HarveyD82

    7 years ago

    he will be traded to Pittsburgh with a few other low level prospects for Garrett Cole in july.

    Reply
    • TwinKilling

      7 years ago

      Cole won’t be in Pittsburgh by next July.

      Reply
  15. Pablo

    7 years ago

    Either the twins front office will come out of the off-season looking like geniuses or they’ll roll a bunch of sevens. A lot of questions on rebound candidates they seem to be targeting. Although Darvish kind of fits that same bill in a way. So keep doing what you’re doing twins.

    2
    Reply
  16. Phillies2017

    7 years ago

    This will need to be a 2-year deal im thinking
    Maybe 2/$8m
    $2m in ’18- $6m in ’19 m/o in ’20

    Reply
  17. nentwigs

    7 years ago

    Meetings in the near future slated with the agents for:
    Mike Napoli
    Ichiro Suzuki
    CC Sabatha
    Bartolo Colon
    When word of these meetings leaked out, Tony Oliva now contemplating a comeback

    Reply
    • HubcapDiamondStarHalo

      7 years ago

      You follow baseball closely, huh?

      1
      Reply
    • twins33

      7 years ago

      What’s funny is they were in talks with Sabathia. He already re-signed with the Yanks.

      1
      Reply
  18. twins33

    7 years ago

    Just FYI, the Duke addition puts them at 40. They don’t need to remove someone to add him like the update says. Which is also what Wolfson said.

    Reply
  19. nentwigs

    7 years ago

    DARN!! Forty man roster is full, forget about Darvish – there’s no room for him !!

    Reply
    • Pablo

      7 years ago

      I’m pretty sure sending someone through waivers is not the biggest obstacle for the twins signing Darvish.

      2
      Reply
      • Phillies2017

        7 years ago

        Lol

        Reply
      • nentwigs

        7 years ago

        It’s sarcasm guys..

        Reply
        • Dodgethis

          7 years ago

          Sarcasm and blog posts aren’t really a good fit. It just doesn’t read the same for everyone. There is no secondary indicator like facial expression or time of voice changes. Just can’t fault someone for not getting sarcasm online.

          Reply
  20. larry48

    7 years ago

    twins suck they are signing people that could be signed for less in feb. No difference makers will lose more games than last year to bad

    Reply
    • JKB 2

      7 years ago

      Who says Duke would be on the market in February still?

      1
      Reply
    • Chris Sale Amateur Tailor

      7 years ago

      we got him for 2 million how much cheaper do you want it

      Reply
  21. nentwigs

    7 years ago

    When asked to confirm the financial terms of his contract, Duke stated,” That’s about the size of it, kid”.

    Reply
  22. nentwigs

    7 years ago

    Additional Development:
    Rumors are circulating (from an undisclosed source) that when comments were requested of them on the Zach Duke signing, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine admitted they thought they were negotiating a contract with Zack Morris.

    Reply

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