"The risk is low, which may or may not correspond with the potential rewards the Astros can reap by signing former All-Star pitcher Zach Duke to a minor-league contract.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow announced on Friday the signing of Duke, a native Texan who also received an invitation to spring training.

Duke, 28, is a lefthanded starter who has fallen on hard times since finishing fifth in the 2005 National League Rookie of the Year voting (8-2, 1.81 ERA in 14 starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates). A Clifton native and Fort Worth resident, Duke is 40-72 with a 4.81 ERA and .311 batting average allowed in the past six seasons.

With a fastball in the 87-mph range, Duke relies heavily on his changeup, curveball and control. He has walked only 2.4 batters per nine innings during his career but has a penchant for pitching to too much contact. "