The Cardinals have fortified their bullpen as they make a postseason bid by acquiring reliever Zach Duke in a trade with the White Sox. St. Louis sends 23-year-old outfield prospect Charlie Tilson to Chicago.
The #STLCards, just like a year ago, add a different look to bullpen with Zach Duke, trade OF prospect Charlie Tillson to #WhiteSox
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2016
Ahead of Sunday’s action, the Cardinals trail the Cubs by 6.5 games in the NL Central but are tied for the second National League wild-card spot.
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Duke, 33, has appeared in an MLB-leading 53 games this season and is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He has 42 strikeouts in over 37 2/3 innings.
St. Louis will be Duke’s seventh MLB team. His major league career began as a starter with the Pirates, but he’s been a reliever in subsequent gigs with the Diamondbacks, Nationals, Reds, Brewers and White Sox.
Duke is in the second year of a three-year, $15 million contract, which pays him $5.5 million in 2017.
The left-handed Tilson is batting .282 with four home runs, 34 RBIs and 15 stolen bases with AAA Memphis this season. He is the 12th-best prospect in the Cardinals system, per MLB.com.