With imminent Zack Duke signing reported by Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, we have effectively filled one of our glaring hole in starting rotation and can turn our focus to improving bullpen and bench. Although no agreement has been made yet, the expected salary for Duke (under what he made last season at $4.3 million) and what we sacrificed to get him was an excellent move by Kevin Towers and Co. to improve our rotation. So since our five guys who will likely occupy the rotation slots come Opening Day 2011 (with Jarrod Parker all but certain to join the rotation sometime during the season) are settled, here are projections for 2011 provided by Bill James at Fangraphs of our five man rotation.

SP 1 Ian Kennedy - 25

31GS 12-9 3.66ERA

SP 2 Daniel Hudson - 24

32GS 14-9 3.85ERA

SP 3 Zack Duke - 27

31GS 7-12 4.92ERA

SP 4 Joe Saunders - 30

33GS 11-13 4.29ERA

SP 5 Barry Enright - 24

24GS 7-9 4.50ERA

Although we clearly lack a number one starting pitcher, I think we have a pretty solid rotation to start the season. I think Duke's number will improve since those projections are in the case Duke stayed with the Pirates.