After a terrific 2014 with the Milwaukee Brewers, lefty reliever Zach Duke has signed a three-year contract with the Chicago White Sox. MLB.com's Cash Kruth reported Tuesday that the contract is worth $15 million, which averages out to $5 million per year. Duke made $850,000 with Milwaukee this past season.

Duke had the best year of his career in 2014, posting a record of 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 1.2 WAR in 58.2 innings spread over 74 appearances for the third-place Brewers. He held left-handed hitters to a .198 average (19 for 96) in his sixth year as a reliever after beginning his career as a starter.

This year's performance followed a 2013 season in which Duke posted a 6.03 ERA in 26 appearances while returning from a fractured wrist suffered in 2011. He spent most of 2012 starting for Syracuse, the Washington Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, while returning from the injury.

For his career, which began in 2005, Duke is 55-77 with a 4.46 ERA and 1.47 WHIP for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, and Brewers. He spent his first six years with the Pirates and played on all four of the other other teams within the past four seasons.

Duke expressed his delight in the new contract, which brings him new opportunity, in a Tuesday afternoon tweet. That opportunity includes a chance to redeem himself as a Major League pitcher for more than just one season.

I am so thrilled to be joining the @whitesox family! This team has some elite young talent! Can't wait to get started!

— Zach Duke (@zach_duke) November 18, 2014

Duke will turn 32 just after the new season begins, so if he continues the performance of 2014 that led to this new deal, he should have a chance to earn a similar contract when he hits costless agency again in 2018.

Krush quoted White Sox senior vice president/general manager Rick Hahn explaining the contract, of which some may argue against such a lucrative deal for a reliever with Duke's record. Said Hahn,

"Very early on, we identified Zach as one of the best left-handed costless agents available this offseason, so we are very pleased he agreed to join the White Sox. He addresses an important need in our bullpen by giving [manager] Robin Ventura a veteran left-handed option late in games."

Duke's 2014 performance indicates that he has completely recovered from the hand fracture that hindered him throughout the three previous seasons. Regardless of his career record, this past season shows that he has earned this new contract -- at least in the minds of White Sox management.