Report: Dempster agrees to terms on 11/18

[RedFlash]

What's more likely? That Dempster is a late bloomer (of which there are precious few examples) or that this year was a fluke (of which there are many, many examples). You might be right, but it's a high risk/high reward situation.

 

While I do agree that Dempster will be a high risk/high reward in 2009 I think he is a better value to the Cubs then say AJ Burnett. We've talked about before, but Dempster clearly has the stuff---even when he was closing---to be a very good starting pitcher. IDK if Demp will be AS good in 2009 as he was in 2008, but I don't see a Carl Pavano here. I believe Dempster next four yrs will be his best of his career. It's a risk, and if Dempster didn't have the talent he does have, then I would suggest we move on, but clearly Demp has the talent to pitch at this level. The question is: will he? I think he does.

[PrimeTime]

This just popped up on Roto

 

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Cubs are close to re-signing Ryan Dempster to a four-year contract.

No word yet on the money involved, but previous reports had the Cubs offering him around $13 million per season. Rosenthal speculates that bringing Dempster back "would not necessarily make the Cubs less likely to trade for" Jake Peavy.

[BigbadB]

Rosenthal:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8812098/Cubs-close-to-re-signing-righty-Dempster

 

The Cubs, moving to address one of their off-season priorities, are close to re-signing free-agent right-hander Ryan Dempster to a four- year contract, according to major-league sources.

 

The return of Dempster would not necessarily make the Cubs less likely to trade for Padres right-hander Jake Peavy, sign free-agent lefty Randy Johnson or pursue any other player.

 

Their next steps likely would depend upon the wishes of the team's new ownership group, which is expected to be selected before Christmas, sources said.

 

It might not take Peavy and Johnson out of future talks, but you'd have to imagine that Hendry would want to move Marquis first before landing another pitcher and being stuck with Marquis.

 

I'd be fine with Dempster coming back. And I'd be thrilled if they still landed Peavy. Bring back Edmonds on the cheap and let Johnson/Edmonds patrol CF, Fukudome/DeRosa patrol RF and Fontenot/Cedeno/DeRosa play 2b. Give Hoffpauir the 5th outfield job and call it an offseason. The offense isn't any different than last year, but the pitching is certainly better.

 

ETA: Oh wait. Theriot or Fontenot will likely be involved in a deal for Peavy, so I guess we'd still need to shop for a middle infielder.

[YearofDaCubs]

What's more likely? That Dempster is a late bloomer (of which there are precious few examples) or that this year was a fluke (of which there are many, many examples). You might be right, but it's a high risk/high reward situation.

 

While I do agree that Dempster will be a high risk/high reward in 2009 I think he is a better value to the Cubs then say AJ Burnett. We've talked about before, but Dempster clearly has the stuff---even when he was closing---to be a very good starting pitcher. IDK if Demp will be AS good in 2009 as he was in 2008, but I don't see a Carl Pavano here. I believe Dempster next four yrs will be his best of his career. It's a risk, and if Dempster didn't have the talent he does have, then I would suggest we move on, but clearly Demp has the talent to pitch at this level. The question is: will he? I think he does.

Give me Burnett over Dempster. Burnett has been starting for a long time and has been consistent doing it. He also has better stuff than Dempster. They're both the same age with Burnett being only a couple months older.

[YearofDaCubs]

Rosenthal:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8812098/Cubs-close-to-re-signing-righty-Dempster

 

The Cubs, moving to address one of their off-season priorities, are close to re-signing free-agent right-hander Ryan Dempster to a four- year contract, according to major-league sources.

 

The return of Dempster would not necessarily make the Cubs less likely to trade for Padres right-hander Jake Peavy, sign free-agent lefty Randy Johnson or pursue any other player.

 

Their next steps likely would depend upon the wishes of the team's new ownership group, which is expected to be selected before Christmas, sources said.

 

It might not take Peavy and Johnson out of future talks, but you'd have to imagine that Hendry would want to move Marquis first before landing another pitcher and being stuck with Marquis.

 

I'd be fine with Dempster coming back. And I'd be thrilled if they still landed Peavy. Bring back Edmonds on the cheap and let Johnson/Edmonds patrol CF, Fukudome/DeRosa patrol RF and Fontenot/Cedeno/DeRosa play 2b. Give Hoffpauir the 5th outfield job and call it an offseason. The offense isn't any different than last year, but the pitching is certainly better.

 

ETA: Oh wait. Theriot or Fontenot will likely be involved in a deal for Peavy, so I guess we'd still need to shop for a middle infielder.

If we want Marquis gone all we have to do is eat 3-5 mil of his contract and he will be gone. I'm sure there are several teams that would take Marquis at 5-7 mil for one year.

[inari]

The trick is getting Marquis to a contender who needs to fill their rotation with a league average starter. Marquis has a lot of value to a team like that. Now do any of them have competent young pitching they'd be willing to give up for the more immediate benefits that would be reaped by adding Marquis to the rotation?

[RyneDawson]

Yeah, a team like the Cardinals, Brewers, or Astros. They all could use 1,2, or even 3 starters.

[RedFlash]

What's more likely? That Dempster is a late bloomer (of which there are precious few examples) or that this year was a fluke (of which there are many, many examples). You might be right, but it's a high risk/high reward situation.

 

While I do agree that Dempster will be a high risk/high reward in 2009 I think he is a better value to the Cubs then say AJ Burnett. We've talked about before, but Dempster clearly has the stuff---even when he was closing---to be a very good starting pitcher. IDK if Demp will be AS good in 2009 as he was in 2008, but I don't see a Carl Pavano here. I believe Dempster next four yrs will be his best of his career. It's a risk, and if Dempster didn't have the talent he does have, then I would suggest we move on, but clearly Demp has the talent to pitch at this level. The question is: will he? I think he does.

Give me Burnett over Dempster. Burnett has been starting for a long time and has been consistent doing it. He also has better stuff than Dempster. They're both the same age with Burnett being only a couple months older.

 

Based on talent, yes I would take Burnett over Dempster, but this is a Lou Piniella led team and I could see personality conflicts between Piniella and the wild child AJ Burnett. So in the end the Cube feel Dempster is a better FIT---not saying is a better talent---for the club over somebody like Burnett.

[RedFlash]

The trick is getting Marquis to a contender who needs to fill their rotation with a league average starter. Marquis has a lot of value to a team like that. Now do any of them have competent young pitching they'd be willing to give up for the more immediate benefits that would be reaped by adding Marquis to the rotation?

 

I could see Toronto making a play for Marquis. This will lose AJ Burnett, they'll likely to miss out on Dempster, and the other major free agents have no intentions of going to Toronto. So I could see Toronto be interested in Jason Marquis (even tho I think Brad Penn would be a decent buy low possibility). The Mets could be another team interested in Marquis especially if they don't bring back Pedro or Perez and strike out on the free agency market I could see Cleveland being interested if they don't like how their pitchers behind Lee and Carmona are developing. There not a contender, but I could see Baltimore (and no this would be separate from the O's player we would like) being interested in Marquis to fill out their rotation.

 

So depending on how the FA market shapes out, there could be some decent options for Marquis.

[erik316wttn]

If we're going to give 4/52 I think I'd rather see us sign Sheets or Burnett instead.

 

Speaking of that, here's one unnamed executive who believes that Dempster will sign this deal:

 

"It wouldn't surprise me if they went to five years with [burnett]," a baseball executive said of the Yankees. "[Ryan] Dempster is going to sign back with the Cubs for four years and $13 million per, and Burnett is worth more than that."

 

The rumor from this article is that the Yankees are prepared to offer Burnett 5 years, 80 million.

 

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11182008/sports/yankees/yankees_prepare_a_j__offer_139209.htm

I'm pretty sure I'd rather go 5/80 with Burnett than 4/52 with Dempster.

 

I dunno. You think Burnett's risk of injury is less than Dempster's risk of suckitude? They're both pretty yucky looking deals.

 

I'd rather give that money to Lowe, myself.

[BigbadB]

The trick is getting Marquis to a contender who needs to fill their rotation with a league average starter. Marquis has a lot of value to a team like that. Now do any of them have competent young pitching they'd be willing to give up for the more immediate benefits that would be reaped by adding Marquis to the rotation?

 

I could see Toronto making a play for Marquis. This will lose AJ Burnett, they'll likely to miss out on Dempster, and the other major free agents have no intentions of going to Toronto. So I could see Toronto be interested in Jason Marquis (even tho I think Brad Penn would be a decent buy low possibility). The Mets could be another team interested in Marquis especially if they don't bring back Pedro or Perez and strike out on the free agency market I could see Cleveland being interested if they don't like how their pitchers behind Lee and Carmona are developing. There not a contender, but I could see Baltimore (and no this would be separate from the O's player we would like) being interested in Marquis to fill out their rotation.

 

So depending on how the FA market shapes out, there could be some decent options for Marquis.

 

Okay, you talked me into it. Marquis and cash to Toronto for some dude named Travis Snider.

[JeffH]

I'd still like to revisit the Marquis for Randy Winn scenario that was thrown around last offseason.

[BigbadB]

I'd still like to revisit the Marquis for Randy Winn scenario that was thrown around last offseason.

 

I wouldn't mind that, actually. Similar contracts, and both in their final years, IIRC. He has decent enough splits against RHP, good speed and a pretty respectable OBP.

[The Other 15]

Anybody else see this, or am I going crazy? About an hour ago, i went on MLBtraderumors just to get a little gossip. Among the story that the Cubs were going to resign Demp was a Kerry Wood blurb that said he could end up with the Cubs afterall on a one year incentive lased contract like last year. I talked on the phone to a friend, and he says he can't find it. I go back to find it myself and it's not there. Anybody else notice it or know what may be going on (besides me going nuts)?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Sadly, there aren't many other places for Hendry to spend this money.

 

Of course, most of that is a result of his gross incompetence.

 

So Hendry's incompetence includes his inability to flood the free agent pool with quality players?

[Derwood]

this contract is going to make us yearn for Marquis' deal

[C.C.]

Anybody else see this, or am I going crazy? About an hour ago, i went on MLBtraderumors just to get a little gossip. Among the story that the Cubs were going to resign Demp was a Kerry Wood blurb that said he could end up with the Cubs afterall on a one year incentive lased contract like last year. I talked on the phone to a friend, and he says he can't find it. I go back to find it myself and it's not there. Anybody else notice it or know what may be going on (besides me going nuts)?

 

Check again:

 

Cubs Close To Re-Signing Dempster

By Tim Dierkes [November 18 at 11:24am CST]

 

11:24am: SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Cubs are "making progress" on a deal with Dempster.

 

10:50am: Rosenthal says the deal would be worth "slightly more than $50 million."

 

9:53am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are close to re-signing Ryan Dempster to a four-year contract. Depending on their ownership situation, the Cubs may still pursue Jake Peavy or Randy Johnson. They could also be in the mix for Rafael Furcal.

[nilodnayr]

Sadly, there aren't many other places for Hendry to spend this money.

 

Of course, most of that is a result of his gross incompetence.

 

So Hendry's incompetence includes his inability to flood the free agent pool with quality players?

 

I assume he means in terms of positions already being filled.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Sadly, there aren't many other places for Hendry to spend this money.

 

Of course, most of that is a result of his gross incompetence.

 

So Hendry's incompetence includes his inability to flood the free agent pool with quality players?

 

I assume he means in terms of positions already being filled.

 

Which doesn't really make a lot of sense either since with very few exceptions those positions are filled with good players who just helped them win nearly 100 games.

[The Other 15]

Yeah, I checked again and saw what you pasted. I'm saying that I saw an additional blurb on Wood in that site earlier this morning. Now, it's not there. Does anybody know if this happens often there or what could be the deal?

[jersey cubs fan]

Sadly, there aren't many other places for Hendry to spend this money.

 

Of course, most of that is a result of his gross incompetence.

 

So Hendry's incompetence includes his inability to flood the free agent pool with quality players?

 

I assume he means in terms of positions already being filled.

 

Which doesn't really make a lot of sense either since with very few exceptions those positions are filled with good players who just helped them win nearly 100 games.

 

I'm guessing he's talking about positions being filled by very expensive players who aren't very good, like Soriano, Marquis, possibly Dempster, Lee, Fukudome, etc.

[apete6]

this contract is going to make us yearn for Marquis' deal

 

If the deal is 4/52, I would list it as the 3rd worst of the 9 big contracts on the Cubs, with DeRosa being the best deal:

 

1. Soriano 8/136

2. Fukudome 4/48

3. Dempster 4/52

4. Zambrano 5/91.5

5. Marquis 3/21

6. Lee 5/65

7. Lilly 4/40

8. Aram 5/73

9. DeRosa 3/13

[windycityfan]

1. Soriano 8/136

 

#-o

[JWCUB]

Cubs Re-Sign Dempster

By Tim Dierkes [November 18 at 11:51am CST]

11:51am: Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times also says there's a four-year, $52MM agreement and Dempster will sign the deal today. I consider this an acceptable price. There's a health risk, but Dempster already had Tommy John surgery. He can probably maintain an ERA below 4.00.

 

11:47am: Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger has a source saying the Cubs and Dempster have agreed on a four-year, $52MM deal.

 

11:24am: SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Cubs are "making progress" on a deal with Dempster.

 

10:50am: Rosenthal says the deal would be worth "slightly more than $50 million."

 

9:53am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are close to re-signing Ryan Dempster to a four-year contract. Depending on their ownership situation, the Cubs may still pursue Jake Peavy or Randy Johnson. They could also be in the mix for Rafael Furcal.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

[inari]

Eh... let's hope he's the next Chris Carpenter.