Cardinals lefty Zach Duke has undergone Tommy John surgery and also had work done to his flexor muscle, according to MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch (via Twitter). He’ll miss all of the 2017 season, after which time he is set to reach free agency.
Duke, 33, reinvented himself as a reliever after beginning his career as a mediocre starter. A redemptive 2014 season earned him a three-year, $15MM contract with the White Sox. He had delivered 98 1/3 frames of 3.11 ERA ball to Chicago heading into this year’s trade deadline, striking out 9.9 but walking 4.4 batters per nine in that span.
St. Louis didn’t make any major splashes in the summer trade market, but did ship outfielder Charlie Tilson to the White Sox to add Duke. In doing so, the club sought not only to bolster its pen from the left side down the stretch in 2016, but also to get out ahead on its shopping list heading into 2017.
Duke provided the Cards with 23 1/3 quality frames, posting a 26:13 K/BB ratio and allowing just five earned runs on 17 hits. He has been brutal for opposing lefties in recent years, and continued that trend in 2016.
While St. Louis won’t enjoy Duke’s presence in the 2017 pen, it will remain obligated to him for the final $5.5MM of his deal. While there are internal options available, led by Kevin Siegrist, the loss could well have a rather substantial impact on the team’s offseason plans. It squarely puts the club in the market for another southpaw, and perhaps even adds to the case for picking up the option of southpaw Jaime Garcia — who could conceivably be utilized in a swingman role.
can’t win em all dukey
What what what? This came out of nowhere lol. Looks like Mo traded Tilson for a half season of a reliever, oh well
The other option was to allow Tilson to toil in the minors. He had no future in St. Louis.
Point I’m making is that Mo traded for half a season of a reliever
That’s par for the course as far as MOZ Trades go!!!
Damaged goods???
So do the Cardinals have to commit a roster spot to him this offseason or can they release him or something? Since he won’t be able to pitch before his contract ends
They can put him on the 60 day DL and that will remove him from the 40 man roster.
I don’t think players can be on the 60-day DL during the offseason
Correct. No 60 dl in off season. They can remove him from 40. However, they still owe him the money
Main thing is it opens up a spot on the 40 man roster.
Wow. That’s now 2 Cardinal relievers who will spend all of 2017 on the DL – Seth Maness and now Zach Duke.
Other than CF, the Cards will really have to focus on the pen this year.
maness is out 6-9 months, from august surgery. could be ready by opening day
Go out and sign Kenley Jansen to close with Oh as the set up man. Package Weaver, Rosenthal, and Adams for Pollock or Blackman.
Maybe we should complain to Manfred about his medicals being tainted! j/k
Cards just hit tough luck with that trade. Oh well.
Cards should trade for wade Davis and get Cain as well in cost cutting move for royals
A cost-cutting move is still going to net KC real prospects in return (if they’re even interested in punting 2017), probably more than STL would want to part with. Reyes should be off the table for a pair of rentals, but I imagine KC would get 4 real prospects in return (Weaver, Perez, Sierra, Alcantara, or something). Doubt any one team guts their system to acquire both players in a package
I wouldn’t do it. Even though they’re top prospects in the Cardinals system. Their MLB rankings are low.
They could get Davis because he’s hitting free agency, but good luck on getting Cain
I’m beginning to think that all young pitchers should just have Tommy John surgery before they begin their careers…just get it out of the way.
Interestingly enough, reports have been coming out for a while, if they hadn’t in the past, that pitchers who undergo TJS have an expiration date on their new ligament.
Bullpen will be fine, should worry about Matheny over pitching the same pitchers over and over again and hurting them or like he did with Rosenthal pitching him while he was hurt. Cardinals still don’t need to pick up Jaime Garcia option that would be stupid to pay 12 mill for him to relieve. The team has lots of internal options to help KS on as lefty pitcher no need to panic, may find a great deal on the market. MO still needs to focus on a another outfield bat and spend some money.
Melancon! Sign him Mo. I could see Mo go after Longoria
I don’t see the Cardinals going after another infielder unless Peralta goes the other way. Also Melancon wouldn’t close here but if I was MO it would be great to have 3 pitchers(Oh,Rosenthal if healthy, Melancon out of the pen that can pitch any where during the game. That being said I dont see the Cardinals spending money on him when they need to sign a star bat!
A star bat? Offense wasn’t much of a problem. Longoria is likely going to be traded this year as they went 68-94 and are a 15-20 farm system. Peralta could be included in the deal or he could be part of another package if Longoria was acquired. Peralta, Flaherty (maybe Weaver) and another prospect like Hudson would get the job done. I also see Mo finding a Jarrod Dyson and playing him in center. Melancon would be icing on the cake with Holliday, Moss and Garcia coming off the books.
Matheny need to come off the books to
They won’t trade Longoria. He’s a face. Do you think Mo would deal Rosenthal or Wainwright this offseason? Or Yadi? The Cards are as likely to deal those three than Silverman to deal Longo.
Don’t forget he hit a career high 36 homers. To go along with a .273 batting average and 98 rbi’s
Also, be patient even if they don’t acquire Longoria. A lot of great free agents to come in the following year. Save the pocketbook Mo.
Moz will make attempts this winter to add pieces. But as I the past, he’ll comfort the fans with “low hanging fruit!” Ha! Please make a descent move this year MO!!!!!!
I couldnt agree more. Go get Melancon. Dudes a stud and VERY consistent.
Bummer for the injury, but glad to see Duke hurting the Cardinals instead of serving up hanging curves for years in Pittsburgh. And yeah, I might be a bit biased on this one
“While St. Louis won’t enjoy Duke’s presence in the 2017 pen, it will remain obligated to him for the final $5.5MM of his deal.”
*pay him…..
I’m not surprised with that arm delivery
I’m very intrigued who the Cardinals keep/add for the 40 for before the Rule 5 Draft.