Pirates, Duke avoid arbitration, agree to contract
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The Pirates and starter Zach Duke this morning agreed to terms on a contract, thus avoiding salary arbitration, according to a source directly involved in talks.
It is believed to be a one-year term, but no salary was immediately available.
Noon today was Major League Baseball's deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to exchange salary figures toward the hearings that take place in February, but that process was canceled by the agreement.
Duke, 26, made $2.2 million last year while going 11-16 with a 4.06 ERA in 32 starts and making the National League All-Star team. This was his second year of arbitration eligibility.
Duke had been the Pirates' only remaining arbitration-eligible player. They started out with four: Jeff Karstens (waived to minors), Ronny Cedeno (signed), and Matt Capps (released).
Check PBC Blog for details, updates.
First Published January 19, 2010 1:09 pm
