>>Sox Agree To Deal With Aging Veteran Pitcher
The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a $15 million, three-year contract with left-handed reliever Zach Duke, boosting their bullpen.
The 31-year-old Duke is owed $4.5 million next season, $5 million in 2016 and $5.5 in 2017. The deal was announced Tuesday.
Duke flourished in his lone season with Milwaukee, going 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA in a career-high 74 appearances. He joins a bullpen that ranked 28th in the majors with a 4.38 ERA.
Duke is 55-77 with a 4.46 ERA over 10 seasons with Pittsburgh (2005-10), Arizona (2011), Washington (2012-13), Cincinnati (2013) and the Brewers (2014). He is 8-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 120 relief appearances.
He was Pittsburgh's opening day starter in 2007 and 2010 and made the NL All-Star team in 2009.
>>Report: Cubs Meet With Lester
(Chicago, IL) -- The "Chicago Tribune" reports Cubs officials met with free-agent pitcher Jon Lester on Tuesday. The 30-year-old Lester was 16-and-11 with a 2.46 ERA with the A's and Red Sox last season.
>>Jon Lester To Meet With Braves
(Atlanta, GA) -- The Atlanta Braves continue to stoke the hot stove this offseason. ESPN reports the team has scheduled a meeting with top free-agent left-handed pitcher Jon Lester this week. Atlanta traded away right fielder Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden on Monday to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for starting pitcher Shelby Miller and a minor league pitching prospect. The Braves also dealt away starting second baseman Tommy La Stella to the Chicago Cubs. Lester is 116-and-67 with a 3.58 ERA in his nine-year career, most of which was with the Boston Red Sox. He finished the season with the Oakland A's after being dealt from Boston at the non-waiver trade deadline.
>>A's Agree To Three-Year Deal With Butler
(Oakland, CA) -- The Oakland Athletics have agreed to a deal with free-agent Billy Butler. The three-year contract is worth 30-million dollars and is pending a physical. The 28-year-old Butler hit .271 with nine homers and 66 RBI while with the American League champion Kansas City Royals this past season. Butler also batted .262 with eight RBI in 13 playoff games.
