"The Pirates and starter Zach Duke this morning agreed to terms on a contract, thus avoiding salary arbitration, according to a source directly involved in talks.

It is believed to be a one-year term, but no salary was immediately available.

Noon today was Major League Baseball's deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to exchange salary figures toward the hearings that take place in February, but that process was canceled by the agreement.

Duke, 26, made $2.2 million last year while going 11-16 with a 4.06 ERA in 32 starts and making the National League All-Star team. This was his second year of arbitration eligibility."