November 20, 2014

THE DUKE OF SANDWICHES

The White Sox bullpen was horrible last season. A priority was to fix it.

GM Rick Hahn started by signing LHP Zach Duke for 3 years/$15 million.

The immediate local reaction was that was pretty high cost to get a lefty relief pitcher.

Duke posted his best season year for the Brewers with a stellar 5-1 record, 2.45 ERA, 1.125 WHIP in 74 games of relief. A product of the Pirates system, the former starteris with his 6th team in his 10 year career. He sports a career 7.9 WAR, with 1.2 WAR for 2014.

Duke, 31, puts some veteran stability in the young bullpen.  Most would suspect that pitching guru Don Cooper can keep Duke pitching at this year's level.

But the contract seems long and expensive first puzzle piece for the White Sox.

Ever since the Dodgers ownership change, and the billion dollar TV deal (which has gone badly for the cable partner), baseball contract prices have skyrocketed even for marginal players. In Duke's case, if you use $5 million/WAR, his "value" is $6 million for 2015. He took a value discount to get two extra years. Player agents are now more concerned about the number of years than the average salary.

The White Sox bullpen is still its weak spot.  The Depth Chart:

Closer: Petricka
Set Up: Jones
Relievers: Duke, Belisario, Webb, Putnam, Guerra, Cleto, Snodgress, Carroll, Surkamp.