Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Chase De Jong and minor league infielder Ryan Costello from Seattle in exchange for left-handed pitcher Zach Duke and cash considerations.
De Jong, 24, has started 21 games for Double-A Arkansas (Seattle), going 5-5 with a 3.80 ERA (120.2 IP, 51 ER), 34 walks and 89 strikeouts this season. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-hander went 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA (28.1 IP, 20 ER), 13 walks, and 13 strikeouts in seven games (4 starts) with Seattle last season. He has appeared in 134 minor league games (122 starts) over seven seasons, going 39-35 with a 3.92 ERA (681.2 IP, 297 ER), 177 walks and 584 strikeouts. The Twins will be his fourth organization (Toronto 2012-2015, Los Angeles-NL 2015-2016 & Seattle 2017-2018). De Jongwas originally selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
Costello, 22, has hit .266 (92-for-346) with 48 runs, 24 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, and 70 RBI for Class-A Clinton (Seattle) in 101 games this season. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound infielder has played 145 career minor league games between Rookie-AZL Mariners and Single-A Clinton, combining to hit .285 (139-for-488) with 37 doubles, 24 home runs, 108 RBI and five stolen bases. Costello was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 31st round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut.
Zach Duke was signed by the Twins this offseason as a free agent. The left-hander has appeared in 45 games for Minnesota, going 3-4 with a 3.62 ERA (37.1 IP, 15 ER), 15 walks and 39 strikeouts. The Clifton, Texas native has not allowed a home run this season and ranks 10th among active lefties in career games with 513. Duke is one of three active players in MLB with 150 career starts and 150 relief appearances.
To replace Duke on the 25-man roster, the Twins have returned Addison Reed from rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 10-day disabled list. Reed missed the last 16 games with right triceps tightness. He appeared in two games on rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester, posting a 4.50 ERA (2.0 IP, 1 ER) with two walks and one strikeout. Reed appeared in 41 games with the Twins, going 1-5 with a 4.83 ERA (41.0 IP, 22 ER), 13 walks and 37 strikeouts.