Duke traded by White Sox to Cardinals for minor league OF

The fire sale has begun on the south side as the Sox Sunday morning have dealt left handed reliever Zach Duke to the St. Louis Cardinals for OF Charlie Tilson. This was about as clean a fit as a GM can find these days, dealing from surplus to fill a crying need.

Duke, 33, is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA in an American League-leading 53 appearances this season. Duke, who makes $4.5 million this season, was low-cost and the return in the form of Tilson was nothing spectacular. Duke may even close with the Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal having a horrendous year. The Cardinals made a significant upgrade in the bullpen without giving up too much.

Cardinals fans may remember Duke from his days as a starter with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has 42 strikeouts in over 37 2/3 innings.

The left-handed Tilson is batting.282 with four home runs, 34 RBIs and 15 stolen bases with AAA Memphis this season. His on-base percentage is.345.

He rose quickly in the Cardinals organization once he overcame a serious shoulder injury suffered while making a diving catch in an extended spring training game.

To me, it sounds like Tilson could be with the big league ball club. Here is a little more on both players.

Tilson, who has already been activated by the White Sox, was the second round pick of the Cardinals in the 2011 Amateur Draft.

Duke is in the second year of a 3-year, $15 million contract, and will be owed $5.5 million in 2017.