White Sox land local product from Cardinals in trade for Duke
The Chicago White Sox traded a left-handed pitcher on Sunday, but it wasn't a major deal involving starting pitchers Chris Sale or Jose Quintana.
The Sox sent veteran relief pitcher Zach Duke to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for minor-league outfielder Charlie Tilson.
A Wilmette native and New Trier High School product, the 23-year-old Tilson hit .282 with 16 doubles, 8 triples, 4 home runs, 34 RBI, 53 runs scored and 15 stolen bases for Class AAA Memphis this season.
The Cardinals selected the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Tilson on the second round of the 2011 draft.
"Charlie is a left-handed hitting outfielder whose speed and defensive ability enable him to do a number of things well to help his team win ballgames," said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn. "We have liked him as a player since the Cardinals selected him out of New Trier in the second round in 2011."
Tilson spent the 2015 season with Class AA Springfield and hit .295 with 20 doubles, 9 triples, 4 home runs, 32 RBI and 46 stolen bases.
Duke was leading the American League with 53 appearances this season. The 33-year-old reliever was 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA for the White Sox.
Before the 2015 season, Duke signed a three-year, $15 million free-agent contract with the Sox.