White Sox sign Zach Duke to three-year, $15 million contract

The White Sox have agreed to sign left-hander Zach Duke to a three-year, $15 million contract, as first reported by Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com.

Duke, 31, was excellent for the Brewers last season, posting a 5-1 record and 2.45 ERA in 74 games after signing with the team in January. The southpaw will add some left-handed stability to a White Sox bullpen that previously only included Scott Snodgress and Eric Surkamp as left-handed options.

As Morosi reported last week, the White Sox are heavily involved in the market for left-handed pitching, so they may add another piece even after the addition of Duke. The team has been linked to top option Andrew Miller on the free agent market, with southpaws like Phil Coke, Joe Thatcher, Craig Breslow, Joe Beimel and Neal Cotts also available this winter. The value of Duke's deal comes as a surprise to many, setting a high-dollar market for left-handed relievers as free agency gets underway.

In ten major league seasons with the Pirates (2005-2010), Diamondbacks (2011), Nationals (2012-2013), Reds (2013) and Brewers (2014), Duke is the owner of a lifetime 55-77 record and 4.46 ERA in 289 games (169 starts). He converted to a reliever with the Diamondbacks in 2011, and has been a solid contributor over the last few seasons.