The Washington Nationals have signed left-handed pitcher Zach Duke.

Duke signed a minor league contract with the Nats last season and appeared in eight games for them as a reliever down the stretch, going 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA.

A starter for the majority of his career, Duke is expected to fill a bullpen role for the Nats, who recently non-tendered Tom Gorzelanny and may lose Sean Burnett to free agency,

An All-Star in 2009 with the Pirates, the 30-year-old Duke has a career record of 49-74 with a 4.52 ERA in 189 games, including 168 starts for Pittsburgh and Arizona.