Pirates, Zach Duke agree to 1 year deal; Claim Braves outfielder Brandon Jones

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Zach Duke on a contract for the 2010 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration.

The deal is a one year deal worth close to $4.25 million.

The 26-year-old Duke was named to the National League All-Star team for the first time in his career in 2009 and went on to share the team lead in victories (11) with righthander Ross Ohlendorf. In addition, he led the ’09 pitching staff in innings pitched (213.0) and ranked 12th among all National League pitchers in that category. His three complete games in 2009 tied for third in the N.L. and were the most by a Pittsburgh pitcher since Jeff Suppan had three in 2003.

“We are pleased that we were able to reach agreement with Zach to avoid the arbitration process,” said Huntington.

“It is a credit to Zach Duke, Mark Pieper (Zach’s representative) and Larry Silverman (Pirates) that we were able to reach an amicable agreement.”

Originally selected by Pittsburgh in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Duke made his Major League debut with the Pirates in 2005 after being named the organization’s Minor League Pitcher-of-the-Year in 2004. He went 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 14 starts with the Pirates in 2005 and became just the second Pittsburgh rookie ever to win his first five decisions.

In his five seasons with Pittsburgh, Duke has won 37 games and has made more than 30 starts in each of his three full seasons (2006, 2008-09).

Pirates claim outfielder Brandon Jones

The Pittsburgh Pirates also confirmed this afternoon that the team has claimed Atlanta Braves outfielder Brandon Jones.

The 26-year-old Jones spent a majority of the 2009 campaign with Gwinnett (Braves’ AAA), where he hit .281 (108-for-384) with 28 doubles, seven home runs and 57 RBI in 107 games. He also went 4-for-13 (.308) with an RBI in five games with Atlanta last season.

The left-handed hitting Jones was originally selected by Atlanta in the 24th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft and made his Major League debut with the Braves in 2007. He also appeared in 41 big league games in 2008 and hit .267 with 10 doubles, one homer and 17 RBI with Atlanta.

Jones was rated by Baseball America as Atlanta’s seventh-best prospect prior to the 2006 season and as the club’s fourth-best prospect prior to the 2008 campaign. He was also ranked by Baseball America as the 70th-best prospect in Major League Baseball prior to the 2008 season, after leading all Braves minor leaguers in RBI (100) while batting .285 with 19 homers and 84 runs scored in 138 combined games between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Richmond in 2007.

The addition of Jones officially puts the Pirates’ 40-man roster at 40 players while the club awaits confirmation between Major League Baseball and The Player’s Association on one of Pittsburgh’s recently announced free agent signings.