I think I posted in a different thread that I'm convinced it's all about opening up the closer spot as they negotiate with Wood. OK, that's bush league though. You could keep something like that behind closed doors. Why box the entire organization into an important decision like that with 5 months to go before opening day? Now if they make further changes and Demp isn't a starter, they look like liars. If they kept it "behind closed doors", how does Wood know they've done it at all? Announcing it publicly would be a way to prove to him that the larger role he wants is actually open. And as Beertown Cubbie has pointed out, could be beneficial if they're trying to move Dempster (which I also believe). Really, I can't think of any other (good) reasons why they'd announce something like this now, while they're negotiating with Wood. A whole lot can and probably will happen by spring training, and if Dempster is indeed in the rotation, he'll either be decent or he'll be back in the pen. Hopefully.