cubsfan26

I heard that the Dempster signing doesn't necessarily mean we will quit pursuing Peavy. Peavy-Zambrano-Harden-Dempster-Lilly...*drool* Yeah Hendry isn't the type of GM to close the door on a pitcher like Peavy. Hendry doesn't control payroll. He has a certain amount of money to work with. If he spends like 10 mil on a RF I don't see how he can afford Peavy too[/quote] I understand that, but Hendry does have alot of stoke over the people currently running the Cubs. If the Cubs have say 4-5m still left to spend, and have a chance to get Peavy. I can see Hendry convincing Crane Kenney and Sam Zell to give the payroll a little bump to get a pitcher like Peavy.

According to Bruce Levine the Cubs are still interested in Randy Johnson even after resigning Dempster. That will most likely mean Jason Marquis being traded, and Sean Marshall still being the swing guy.

I can see teams offering Bradley two years, and possibly three years. Playing only in 75,96, and 61 games before last year is gonna scare a ton of teams off of long term deals. Especially when Bradley DH a good amount of last season. Not to mention Bradley isn't known for being a very nice guy. Bradley signed a 1y 5.2m deal last offseason. I wonder if the Cubs could get him at 2y 18-20m? I guess it depends on how much the Blue Jays and other teams are willing to offer him.

I heard that the Dempster signing doesn't necessarily mean we will quit pursuing Peavy. Peavy-Zambrano-Harden-Dempster-Lilly...*drool* Yeah Hendry isn't the type of GM to close the door on a pitcher like Peavy. Signing Dempster makes Hendry alot less desperate to get Peavy, and he will probably focus more on other parts of the ballclub first. But if a 3 or 4 team trade comes along, I'm sure Hendry would find away to fit Peavy in our budget, or convince Zell or the new owner to increase it a bit for Peavy. Signing Dempster does make it more unlikely, but I don't think we will stop being after him because of it.

I wonder what type of contract Bradley is looking for. Even though he had a very good year last season, his poor healthy history is going to stop him from getting a huge deal.

The Cubs are already paying most of the cost of those backloaded deals as of this year. Our free agency players (excluding the arbitration players) received 16.15 million in raises from 08 to 09 (I'm counting each signing bonus in the first year, both in the past and with Dempster's contract). Those same players next year? (now counting Dempster) 4.225 million in raises. A huge difference. Between 2010 and 2011, the players under contract then actually go down by .15 million overall. So as you can see, most of the damage from backloading has already been paid. So unless another several hugely backloaded contracts come around, the Cubs payroll situation isn't really going to get much worse than it is right now, which the Cubs seem able to absorb at the moment. It all depends on how much lower levels they will be performing at. How much damage it causes will depend on if we can get a few regulars come up through the farm or not. If Flaherty is our everyday 2b, Vitters our everyday 3b or 1b, Hak-Ju Lee is our starting SS, then Samardzija/Cashner/Dae Eun Rhee are making a impact pitching wise. There's no doubt at some point we will have to have a rebuilding type season or two unless the farm starts producing. But right now, this is the price we will pay to win now and be a contender year after year.

Yeah the Cubs probably had to make the 4th year his option. Since he was taking alot less money to stay with the Cubs. It can't be an awful contract yet though. Because we don't know what we will be getting from Dempster. Even if he's somewere in the middle of last year and his career numbers, it would still be a respectable deal for us. If Dempster can somehow keep his era in the 3.50s range, this deal could be a steal for us. But of course if Dempster ends up with a 4.70s era then it would be a awful contract.

Nice to know there is an option on the 4th year, it's potentially only a 3 year deal if he doesn't do well. Should be interesting what type of option it is team? player? vesting? It's a player options, it's more protection for Dempster. If Dempster is still pitching like an ace after three years, he can opt out and still get another good contract at age 35.

So will the signing bonus be counted against this years payroll, if it's paid before the first of the year? Or do teams not include signing bonus with their payroll?

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Agy0WpWCaDWAEch1S7gN_UwRvLYF?slug=ap-cubs-dempster&prov=ap&type=lgns He gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011. Dempster has a 2012 option for $14 million.

hopefully he front loads it so we have a little more flexibility in 2-3 years I'm sure he will backload it, the Cubs still are going to add a RF LH bat this offseason, and possibly another starting pitcher(if they can get rid of Marquis without eating too much of the contract). Not to mention minor pieces in a LH reliever and back up catcher, but I doubt either would cost much. DeRosa and Marquis will come off the books next season(around 15m), then Lee and Lilly in 2010(25m). So I can see something like Dempster making 9m in 09, 12m in 2010, then 15m in 2011 and 16m in 2012. As long as were in win now mode, were gonna have to keep doing this. The only way to make up for it is, to get our farm system to start producing good major league players.

I've got to wonder how much his bed crapping in the playoffs cost him.[/quote] I don't think much at all, I heard the Braves were offering something like 4y at 67m, and I think others had simliar or higher bids. As wild as Dempster was in the playoff game he still was one pitch away, from going 5 scoreless innings. GM's will shake that off, as nerves with starting his first playoff game, because it's not like he was crushed.

Dempster did work his butt off last year to become a good pitcher. He got himself in great shape, and worked very hard on his pitches. I do believe the effort he made had alot to do with his success last year, and he needs to make a simliar effort this season. Hopefully after finally having a taste of success, he will continue to work hard.

I'd say 14-10, 3.88 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, but 18-5,3.02 ERA, 1.20 WHIP would be great.

same I also agree, but most of us wouldn't have put Dempster in the rotation last year either. So lets hope Ryan keeps proving us wrong. If Dempster can give us a 3.90s era or so the next four years I will be happy with the contract.

The contract sounds reasonable, and I'm sure Dempster turn down a ton of money. Lets just hope we see a pitcher alot closer to the guy we saw last year. Now it's time to get rid of Marquis, which we should actually be able to do this offseason.

I don't like giving that $ to middle relievers who just so happen to get an "S" next to their name in the boxscore....ohh and trading one of our best prospects as well. This signing made the Cubs look like idiots. Well yeah I'd still have preffered this to the gregg trade I guess technically, Wood coming out and saying he would have signed for 1 year made the cubs look like idiots.. Yeah but most people should know that those comments weren't legitmate. Or at least Wood agent wasn't willing to consider a one year deal during talks with Hendry.

If thats true then I don't think Dempster will be back. But I'll wait to hear it from a better source first. Since Levine and others are still saying the Cubs are waiting to hear back from Dempster on this offer.

I agree resigning him is a risk, and I think other teams are offering 14-15m per season at 4-5 years. So if he does come back I think he would have to take alot less money. His season could have been a fluke year or Dempster could have turned a corner in his career. The guy always had good stuff, and adding a pitch mixed with his new funky delivery might have had a hand in making him more effective. Personally I feel Dempster won't match last years numbers, but will still be a solid number 3 starter. So If we keep the deal at 12m per season thats probably the going rate for middle of the rotation starters these days. That said I wouldn't be that upset if he leaves, and a part of me almost hopes he does.

All this report means is Dempster could decide who he's going to sign with soon. When Levine said Dempster was going to sign in the next 48 hours, that doesn't mean he's a lock to sign with us. He's just going to resign with somebody, and I'm sure has bigger offers on the table.

If the Cubs do end up resigning Dempster, I think we will still talk to the Padres about Peavy and try to something out. But if we're gonna fit him in our budget next year, were gonna have to trade Marquis(and get at least 6m off the books), and add a cheap RF like Hermida. But if we decide to sign someone like say Abreu, Bradley or Ibanez we can't afford Peavy to.

I heard this in a sports update at around 6:20, they just said Dempster will make his decision on the Cubs offer. Saying Dempster was going to sign didn't mean he was going to sign with us, it just means he will sign with somebody. I assume the Cubs offer is their final offer, so Dempster will either accept or reject that. If Dempster rejects this offer, and signs with another team. Then I think the Cubs will work harder to get a Peavy deal done, but If Dempster resigns the Cubs probably move on from Peavy. Lets all hope Dempster decides to go for the money, and leaves.

I wouldn't be against trading DeRosa, if it means getting Peavy. But I dunno if the Cubs trust Fontenot as a everyday player. Plus it would take away alot of their depth,and I dunno if Lou would want that. If they did trade DeRosa I think they would wanna add another infielder to either play SS(move Theriot to 2b), or replace DeRosa at 2b.

It doesn't sound like either are currently on Peavy list. Towers also said Peavy mentioned three teams he would be willing to go to. I figure thats probably the Cubs, Braves and Dodgers. So with the Braves out for now, and Padres unwlling to trade Peavy to the Dodgers. It looks like the Cubs will be the only team in the Peavy talks for now. So Hendry has to find a third team to rip off for some prospects, that the Padres like. We just gotta hope Peavy doesn't decide to add anymore teams to his list. Then hope the Braves don't miss out on some free agents, and get back in the Peavy talks.

Giants just signed Jeremy Affeldt to a 2 year, 8m contract. You would think the Giants would be looking to improve other parts of the team before the bullpen.