Twins agree to deal with Zach Duke

The Minnesota Twins didn't take Christmas Day off, agreeing Monday to a one-year deal with left-handed reliever Zach Duke.

Terms of the deal are unknown.

Duke, who turns 35 in April, spent the first half of the 2017 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He debuted in late July and finished the campaign - the last of a three-year, $15-million deal - with a 3.93 ERA and 16.2 percent strikeout rate in 27 appearances with the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 2016, however, Duke was one of the most effective left-handed relievers in the majors, accruing 1.3 WAR while crafting a 2.36 ERA and 26.4 percent strikeout rate over a career-high 81 appearances split between the Cardinals and Chicago White Sox. He also held left-handed batters to a .580 OPS and notched 29 strikeouts while not allowing a home run across 111 plate appearances.

Duke, an All-Star in 2009 when he was still a starter, offers Twins manager Paul Molitor a second left-handed option behind Taylor Rogers.