White Sox agree to terms with left-handed pitcher Zach Duke on three-year, $15-million contract

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a three-year, $15.0-million contract with left-handed reliever Zach Duke. Under terms of the contract, Duke, 31, will receive $4.5 million in 2015, $5.0 million in 2016 and $5.5 in 2017.

Duke went 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA (16 ER/58.2 IP), 12 holds and 74 strikeouts over a career-high 74 appearances last season with Milwaukee. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Duke limited opponents to a .223 (49-220) average, including a .198 (19-96) mark with 37 strikeouts vs. left-handers, and allowed just 19.5 percent (8-41) of inherited runners to score.

Duke's 74 appearances tied for seventh in the National League, while his average of 11.35 strikeouts per 9.0 IP ranked 11th. Among NL lefty relievers, he finished in the Top 10 in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3rd, 4.35), walks per 9.0 IP (3rd, 2.61), wins (T3rd), ERA (4th), WHIP (4th, 1.13), games (T4th), inherited runners scored percentage (6th), strikeouts (7th), home runs per 9.0 IP (7th, 0.46), IP (T7th) and opponents average (8th).

Duke made 14 consecutive scoreless appearances from April 12-May 10 (13.1 IP) and 16 in a row from June 22-July 30 (14.2 IP) and was voted Milwaukee's Pitcher of the Month for July.

"Very early on, we identified Zach as one of the best left-handed free agents available this offseason, so we are very pleased he agreed to join the White Sox," said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. "He addresses an important need in our bullpen by giving Robin Ventura a veteran left-handed option late in games."

Duke, a native of Clifton, Texas, is 55-77 with a 4.46 ERA (567 ER/1,144.2 IP) and 639 strikeouts in 289 games (169 starts) over 10 major-league seasons with Pittsburgh (2005-10), Arizona (2011), Washington (2012-13), Cincinnati (2013) and the Brewers (2014). He has gone 8-2 with a 3.28 ERA (47 ER/129.0 IP) and 107 strikeouts in 120 career relief appearances.

Duke was named to the NL All-Star Team with the Pirates in 2009 and was their Opening Day starter in 2007 and 2010. He originally was selected by Pittsburgh in the 20th round of the 2001 draft.

Following the signing, the White Sox 40-man roster increases to 37.