Sun Times: Blue Jays pursuing Dempster

[JohnF]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/679490,CST-SPT-cub04.article

 

Could converted closer Ryan Dempster be headed to the Toronto Blue Jays? Toronto media reports suggest the Jays might pursue the Canadian-born Dempster, who's preparing to return to a starting role next season. There doesn't appear to be a natural trade fit with Toronto, but given the Cubs' starting pitching depth and the uncertainty of Dempster's conversion, it's not a reach to think a deal could be made.

[VanceJergins]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/679490,CST-SPT-cub04.article

 

Could converted closer Ryan Dempster be headed to the Toronto Blue Jays? Toronto media reports suggest the Jays might pursue the Canadian-born Dempster, who's preparing to return to a starting role next season. There doesn't appear to be a natural trade fit with Toronto, but given the Cubs' starting pitching depth and the uncertainty of Dempster's conversion, it's not a reach to think a deal could be made.

 

 

Yes, just get a minor leaguer and dump his salary.

[Outshined_One]

Brett Cecil or Travis Snider plz.

[Hosak8]

I'd settle for Adam Lind or Jesse Litsch.

 

Neither are spectacular, but either would be worth the gamble. If noting else, look at the money we'd save.

[badnews]

I like Dempster better than most. I'd rather have him than a guy like Josh Banks or David Purcey. The Jays have a pretty uninteresting farm system though this last draft spiced things up some. I believe guys like Cecil aren't eligible to be traded yet, and Snider is too much to ask back. It looks like they've got a little bit of too-good-for-Dempster talent and a lot of blah.

[JohnF]

Here's an other article saying that Dempster could be on the way out:

 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071204.BLAIR04/TPStory/Sports

 

The Chicago Cubs have told Ryan Dempster of Gibsons, B.C., that he will be a starting pitcher and not a closer. What they haven't told him but are telling other teams is that they'd like to move him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

My guess is that Dempster really wants to start and began pushing pretty heavily for that chance last season. The Cubs told him to wait until this year. He waited and now Lou and the Cubs have promised him the chance to start. In all liklihood, they may be less than enamored with that idea, but it's a promise they've already made to Ryan. So, to solve the problem, they'd prefer to move him in a trade and let his role as either starter or bullpen arm be someone else's problem.

[Post Count Padder]

I like Dempster, but wouldn't mind dumping his salary.

[wvcbxl]

Yes, just get a minor leaguer and dump his salary.

 

Sounds like a good idea to me.

[YearofDaCubs]

Take anything to get rid of him because if he stays, he will be worse than Marquis in a starting role.

[CuseCubFan69]

Take anything to get rid of him because if he stays, he will be worse than Marquis in a starting role.

 

That's what I was going to ask...you all prefer Marquis or Dempster as the #5?

[C.C.]

Take anything to get rid of him because if he stays, he will be worse than Marquis in a starting role.

 

That's what I was going to ask...you all prefer Marquis or Dempster as the #5?

 

It's the same either way...

[YearofDaCubs]

Take anything to get rid of him because if he stays, he will be worse than Marquis in a starting role.

 

That's what I was going to ask...you all prefer Marquis or Dempster as the #5?

Both are terrible, but I have a feeling Dempster will be worse than Marquis.

[ThePenguin11]

Which is the lesser of two evils? Marquis is the devil we know...however Dempster probably can't be quite as bad as a starter. Can we trade them both for a Jose Ascanio-type?

[CuseCubFan69]

Take anything to get rid of him because if he stays, he will be worse than Marquis in a starting role.

 

That's what I was going to ask...you all prefer Marquis or Dempster as the #5?

 

It's the same either way...

 

If it is I suppose it would be better to trade the more expensive one, if they can but yeah, I suppose moving Dempsters salary would give Mr. Hendry even more to spend. Wisely I hope.

[windycityfan]

Oh Canada...always trying to sell the nationalistic concept for their sorry baseball fans and sucking at it.

 

If I had a dollar for the predictability in Godfrey's moves I'd be in Jamaica sipping pina coladas. I'm going out on a limb and say they'll pursue Rich Harden and Erik Bedard soon after they become garbage. They still have Matt Stairs to run him into the ground anyway.

 

Back to the point, they can have Ryan Dempster for a bottle of Rye Whiskey for all I care.

[Post Count Padder]

Which is the lesser of two evils? Marquis is the devil we know...however Dempster probably can't be quite as bad as a starter. Can we trade them both for a Jose Ascanio-type?

In a perfect world......probably not in this one.

[frostwyrm]

My guess is that Dempster really wants to start and began pushing pretty heavily for that chance last season. The Cubs told him to wait until this year. He waited and now Lou and the Cubs have promised him the chance to start. In all liklihood, they may be less than enamored with that idea, but it's a promise they've already made to Ryan. So, to solve the problem, they'd prefer to move him in a trade and let his role as either starter or bullpen arm be someone else's problem.

 

That's my guess too. The Cubs are most likely making a phoney show of faith in Dempster's ability to start in the hope that it will inflate his trade value enough to make him movable without having to eat any salary. Purely from a business standpoint it's not a bad idea, though it's kinda sleazy to mislead Dempster with false promises.

[BigbadB]

My guess is that Dempster really wants to start and began pushing pretty heavily for that chance last season. The Cubs told him to wait until this year. He waited and now Lou and the Cubs have promised him the chance to start. In all liklihood, they may be less than enamored with that idea, but it's a promise they've already made to Ryan. So, to solve the problem, they'd prefer to move him in a trade and let his role as either starter or bullpen arm be someone else's problem.

 

That's my guess too. The Cubs are most likely making a phoney show of faith in Dempster's ability to start in the hope that it will inflate his trade value enough to make him movable without having to eat any salary. Purely from a business standpoint it's not a bad idea, though it's kinda sleazy to mislead Dempster with false promises.

 

As sleazy as it may sound, I'd prefer Cubs management take a more sleazy route than just give players away.

[CuseCubFan69]

My guess is that Dempster really wants to start and began pushing pretty heavily for that chance last season. The Cubs told him to wait until this year. He waited and now Lou and the Cubs have promised him the chance to start. In all liklihood, they may be less than enamored with that idea, but it's a promise they've already made to Ryan. So, to solve the problem, they'd prefer to move him in a trade and let his role as either starter or bullpen arm be someone else's problem.

 

That's my guess too. The Cubs are most likely making a phoney show of faith in Dempster's ability to start in the hope that it will inflate his trade value enough to make him movable without having to eat any salary. Purely from a business standpoint it's not a bad idea, though it's kinda sleazy to mislead Dempster with false promises.

 

As sleazy as it may sound, I'd prefer Cubs management take a more sleazy route than just give players away.

 

Like Beck?

[BigbadB]

Like Greg Maddux, like Jacque Jones, like the first rumors of Mark Prior being traded for career minor leaguers.

[CuseCubFan69]

Like Greg Maddux, like Jacque Jones, like the first rumors of Mark Prior being traded for career minor leaguers.

 

The Maddux trade bugged me a lot more than the Jones one did.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Dempster for Stairs

[CuseCubFan69]

Dempster for Stairs

 

Can he still play OF or handle right at Wrigley?

[Butterscup1679666578]

Dempster for Stairs

 

Can he still play OF or handle right at Wrigley?

 

Last year he played 45 games at 1st, 43 in LF, 17 in RF and 4 at DH. He obviously couldn't start there, but I think he'd be a solid platoon/bench guy, and some nice insurance if, god forbid, Lee got hurt or something.

 

Unfortunately, I'm sure Dempster won't get it done, but his .917 OPS last year in 405 PA's would look nice.