Even though Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster knows that he could be traded in July, team president Theo Epstein says that he has talked to the pitcher about remaining in Chicago beyond 2012, writes Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times. Epstein said that there has been open dialogue and the two sides could possibly work out a new contract.
"Long term, sure. We’ll have to take a realistic look at where we are," Epstein said.
Dempster, 35, is in his ninth season with the Cubs and in the final year of a four-year, $52MM deal. The veteran has a 2.14 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 through eight games this season and is likely the Cubs' most attractive trade chip.
How about getting him a “W” first…
2 years/$25MM seems about right.
For another team, yes. For the Cubs, no way. $12.5 million a year for a over 30 something pitcher is not how you rebuild a team. Now, 2 years @ $15 million is about the right idea if Demp wants to give a hometown discount. If not, time to move on.
i agree. and let’s be honest. his era will probably rise to a 3.6-3.8 mark as the season progresses. trade him, bring him back back to close out his career, then give him a front office job. he and kerry need to stay in the organization. they are great ambassadors for the cubs and the city of chicago. demps will probably end up in the tv or radio booth at some point in the future.
Honestly, it’s something everybody says about their players. Have we ever seen a GM step up while a player is still with his team and say: “There’s no earthly chance we’re bringing this guy back?”
It might be true, it might not. In either event, you don’t want potential trade partners to think you have to trade a player.
They sort of said that in Milwaukee with Prince Fielder.
I really hope that this team is a drastically different one come August. There’s no legitimate reason to keep anyone over about 26 years of age, because this team’s probably 3-5 years away from contention. They need to build up the farm, then wait until post-2013 or post-2014 to spend money on MLB free agents.
That farm building is going to cost them a lot of wins, in the forms of guys like Garza, Dempster, Soriano (with lots of money eaten), Soto, Marmol (perhaps with money eaten), and basically anyone else on the roster not named Castro, just about.
What would it take to get him? Hope Wren gets involved, they desparately need another solid, reliable inning eater.
He already sold his home in Chicago. He’s not coming back.
$13M/year surely affords him a new one.
he sold his house because he bought another one.
The Cubs need decent starting pitching. They don’t seem to have much. A guy like Dempster would provide some stability and innings while they take a chance on some other pitchers. It doesn’t have to be Dempster but he seems willing to stick around. Who else could they get?
Rebuilding and going nowhere teams STILL have to have someone pitch their games.
Why would Dempster want to play out his last years for a loser. Move on Demp and go to a winner. By the time the Cubs have a shot Demp will be done.
Because Demp is loyal to the Cubs like Woody was. He would rather stay and help rebuild than go chase rings with people he doesn’t know. It is what is lacking in sports today, loyalty.
“He would rather stay and help rebuild”
But the only way he helps rebuild, is by getting traded.
Not the only way. 2 more years of 180 innings pitched @ 3.50 ERA or below while younger pitchers get more experience in the minors is also a great way to help. Especially at a discount of about $7 million a year instead of $13.5 million a year. That extra $6.5 million can sign a better 3rd basemen, 2nd baseman, a couple of new bullpen guys, or extra money to use to get rid of Sori. Take your pick.
eh, I like Dempster but even at $7MM he’s not a huge help to the Cubs. They can find plenty of pitchers to plug in to fill the innings while the young guys get ready. IMO, he’s much more valuable to the Cubs if he gets traded for a pitching prospect(s).
He is in the last year of his contract and the team trading for him does not get the draft pick compensation if he resigns with the Cubs in the offseason. We will not get much for Demp on the trade market.
The exact same was said about Carlos Beltran last year. He was traded for a top 50 prospect.
worst trade ever. maybe if they had attempted to resign him… but your top pitching prospect for a two month rental? why is sabean even like a real thing?
That team has had a lot of turnover and will continue to turn. So Dempster will not be playing with the same guys. So he will be rebuilding with guys he doesn’t know.
Same organization. As look at it this way…. Would you rather leave a city you love with new ownership and a superstar front office or go somewhere else and help someone you have played against for years and years. The man wants to stay in Chicago, let him stay. ( I am for trading him for a couple of pieces and then resigning him to a hometown discount in the offseason. ) best of both worlds.
If it were me I would want to play for a winner. But I am not Dempster so I don’t know what he wants to do. I truly doubt Dempster cares much about the front office. If he wants to stay good for him but many athletes either care about the money or winning. I think there are very few that love the city.
Theo pays lip service to reporters, and you guys end up jumping on the conclusion that they’re talking contract with Dempster? Oy.
Disclaimer in advance: Purely from the team perspective, I think the Cubs should trade Dempster.
That said, I think a lot of the commenters are too focused on how they would want to win if they were a player. Of course you want to win, but it’s not that simple. These guys have families, who they either have to be away from for weeks or months at a stretch, have to haul around with them like luggage, or have to uproot every time they decide another city offers a “better chance to win.” That’s not easy for anybody involved. Especially as guys get older and they realize they’re missing their kids’ childhoods, their priorities shift. (Many of them, anyway.)
In Dempster’s case it is even more complicated since he has a child with DiGeorge Syndrome. By all accounts she is doing well, but she still requires ongoing care. Uprooting her presents an even stronger challenge than does uprooting any young child, and leaving her to pursue a ring becomes even more emotionally taxing than it would be otherwise — for Dempster and his wife (and of course Riley).
That’s why somebody like Ryan Dempster would be interested in staying on a rebuilding team. Life isn’t as simple as “how much do I want to win?” or “where is the biggest paycheck?” In fact, it doesn’t take long to realize how unimportant those things really are — especially when one is in a position like Dempster is to make virtually any decision one wishes.
Will he stay? Was Theo serious? Who knows. We’ll see soon enough. But it’s not hard at all to imagine why Dempster would want to stay and it doesn’t mean he has his priorities messed up. Quite the contrary.