Ryan Dempsters Cubs future.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'll also add that I think a lot of Dempster's future and Wood's also depend on what happens at the end of this season. If the Cubs win it all, I think they will be allotted even more resources for a return to the WS. In that case, I think the money will be there for Wood and Dempster.

[Guest]

If he won't accept a team-friendly contract, I'd love to cash in with some draft picks and look elsewhere in the free agent market.

[David]

I'd rather not keep Dempster around for the amount of money he's likely to command (or anywhere close).

 

Overpaying for a guy after a career year is something good teams shouldn't be in the habit of doing.

[Post Count Padder]

I think he'd give the Cubs a discount because of how much he loves it here. If he's reasonable, I'd re-sign him. Something like 3 years 20-25 mil or so. He'll probably command more than that though on the open market.

[CubbieBum]

We need to keep our options. The more possible starters the better because as people have said injuries happen and Rich Hill's happen.

 

My last point is you can only backload so many contracts eventually all those backends catchup to you. Backload a few contracts but anymore and you are all but guaranteeing a rough period with low free money.

[NCCubFan]

Backload a few contracts but anymore and you are all but guaranteeing a rough period with low free money.

I'll take that if it results in a championship before then.

[CubbieBum]

Backload a few contracts but anymore and you are all but guaranteeing a rough period with low free money.

I'll take that if it results in a championship before then.

 

Who wouldn't? But there is no way of knowing and just as many or more teams win championships who give out smart simple contracts than teams that stockup on backloaded contracts.

[Jehrico]

Hendry and Dempster go back a ways. If Hendry is around to offer a contract for next season, Dempster will be here. If the team is sold and we get a new GM, anything is fair game.

[imb]

Hendry and Dempster go back a ways. If Hendry is around to offer a contract for next season, Dempster will be here. If the team is sold and we get a new GM, anything is fair game.

 

I never thought I would say this, but if we got new owners that let Hendry go, I would be livid

[NCCubFan]

Hendry and Dempster go back a ways. If Hendry is around to offer a contract for next season, Dempster will be here. If the team is sold and we get a new GM, anything is fair game.

And even with a new owner I think Hendry returning is a near certainty. He's had a good run the last couple of years, so I don't see a new owner firing him and having to pay off the remainder of his contract. Extending his contract could be another story.

[rawaction]

Backload a few contracts but anymore and you are all but guaranteeing a rough period with low free money.

I'll take that if it results in a championship before then.

 

Who wouldn't? But there is no way of knowing and just as many or more teams win championships who give out smart simple contracts than teams that stockup on backloaded contracts.

 

Hendry has done a good job of not stacking them all together though. Got Howry, Eyre, Wood and Dempster contracts up after this year. Derosa, Marquis, Harden after 09. Lee and Lilly after 2010. Ramirez and Fukudome 2011. Zambrano in 2012. The Cubs do have a lot of money on the books for 2010 (I count $90M from Lee, Lilly, Z, Soriano, Fukudome and Ramirez), but that's the only, really bad looking season. And even then, the Cubs could be getting great production from pre-arbitration eligible guys like Hill, Marmol, Pie, Theriot and Soto....not to mention the number of prospects that could/should graduate to the majors by then.

[CubColtPacer]

Hendry and Dempster go back a ways. If Hendry is around to offer a contract for next season, Dempster will be here. If the team is sold and we get a new GM, anything is fair game.

And even with a new owner I think Hendry returning is a near certainty. He's had a good run the last couple of years, so I don't see a new owner firing him and having to pay off the remainder of his contract. Extending his contract could be another story.

 

Hendry's contract is over at the end of this year.

 

But if the Cubs make the playoffs 2 straight years, I see an owner having a very hard time not giving him at least another year or two. It's not the best PR move to simply let him go after potentially the best season in a long time.

[mcgoobs]

I would expect someone to offer him something around 4 yrs/42-48 mil if his era stays under 3.75. If his era is right at 3.75 he'll get offered 42 mil if it stays say around 3.40 he'll get offered 48 mil.

 

Assuming he maintains his performance and doesn't get injured, I think those numbers are in line with what a desperate GM would give Dempster. The Cubs would be wise to pass if Dempster is offered anything more than three years at $10M per. He's been a very pleasant surprise this year, but 4 years for a 31-year old pitcher who only returned to the starting role after a five-year stint as a reliever is too aggressive.

You mean his "five-year stint" that lasted about 2 3/4 years? He was moved to the bullpen in 2005 after starting the season in the rotation and remained there for the rest of 2005 and all of 2006 and 2007.

 

It appears we're both wrong. Dempster was a relief pitcher during his injury-plagued 2004. That would make him a relief pitcher for 4 seasons before returning back to the starting role in 2008.

[snoodmonger]

I think Demp taking a hometown discount is very plausible, but I'm not quite as confident as everyone here that he'll do it.

 

Same with Wood. Wood especially has been pretty upstanding about taking care of the team that has taken care of him. But in my opinion, he's square now, and I wouldn't blame him at all for seeking out the richest contract available.

[Mizzou]

I think Demp will give the Cubs a hometown discount. The questions are, how badly does he want to stay here and how badly will Hendry want to keep him here? I think Demp really likes it here, but he's not going to take some extreme lowball offer. As others have mentioned, 3/30 or 4/40 would entice him to stay, I would think.

 

As for Wood, his wife mentioned on air the other day that they've found a home here. I think that Wood is a lifetime Cub, so long as Hendry gives him something that is near fair. He doesn't seem like the type of guy to gauge the Cubs for a huge chunk of change. I don't know what it would take, but I think everyone involved would want Wood to wear Cubbie blue next year. Considering he's been a Cub for all of his adult life, I can't see Woody walking. If he continues to dominate like he has all year, I'd be all for giving him 10M a year to keep him around as the Cubs' closer.

 

I want Wood to stick around no matter what. He's been one of my favorite Cubs for quite awhile now.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The best thing the Cubs can do to keep both Dempster and Lilly around is to offer them a deal now. I'm not sure that with the impending sale, Hendry has that authority, but signing them before the season is over might be the best approach.

[NCCubFan]

As for Wood, his wife mentioned on air the other day that they've found a home here.

Not to mention that she's a native of the Chicago area. And I believe they actually built a home in the area as opposed to buying an existing home (I remember that from a few years ago). I think he's a lifetime Cub as long as they want him and offer him a fair deal.

[Butterscup1679666578]

The best thing the Cubs can do to keep both Dempster and Lilly around is to offer them a deal now. I'm not sure that with the impending sale, Hendry has that authority, but signing them before the season is over might be the best approach.

 

You mean Dempster and Wood? I don't want Lilly around longer than his contract.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The best thing the Cubs can do to keep both Dempster and Lilly around is to offer them a deal now. I'm not sure that with the impending sale, Hendry has that authority, but signing them before the season is over might be the best approach.

 

You mean Dempster and Wood? I don't want Lilly around longer than his contract.

 

Yeah, I did. I have no idea why I typed Lilly. #-o

[Monco]

Charlie Finley used to say give me 25 guys with one year contracts and we'll win the pennant(something like that)

 

Would Dempster be a free agent in which we would get a first rounder and a supplemental ?

[Brett]

I think Demp will give the Cubs a hometown discount. The questions are, how badly does he want to stay here and how badly will Hendry want to keep him here? I think Demp really likes it here, but he's not going to take some extreme lowball offer. As others have mentioned, 3/30 or 4/40 would entice him to stay, I would think.

 

If Dempster puts up a 200 inning, 3.30 ERA season this year, I just don't see 3/30 or 4/40 being enough to keep him.

[NCCubFan]

Would Dempster be a free agent in which we would get a first rounder and a supplemental ?

I would think so, since he put up some fairly good numbers as a closer before this year in addition to his performance as a starter this year. I'm not positive though; I don't know how the formula used accommodates a change in role for a pitcher.

[bubbycub]

won't need to sign demp since Sabathia will be signing here (just to irk the brew fans)

[CoolHandLuke]

I highly doubt Ryan will be worth what he signs for. I offer him arbitration, let him know that we love what he gave us and he is welcome to come back at a discount, and tell him that he just doesn't fit in with us financially and wish him luck with whatever huge contract he gets in the open market. And I love Ryan. I just don't think it makes sense to sign him to a big long term deal.

[RynoRules]

I agree with the above - he's not lilkely to be worth what he will command on the open mkt. That said, I'd top out at at 3 yrs and 30 mill for him. If he keeps this up that isn't likely to get it done.