12:59pm: The Braves seem to be close to acquiring Ryan Dempster, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links). The Braves are believed to be high on the list of teams to which Dempster would approve a trade, Heyman notes. The right-hander, who can veto any trade, is not likely to demand an extension.
Dempster, 35, has an NL-best 2.11 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 98 innings for the Cubs this year. He earns $14MM in 2012 — more than $5.5MM between now and the end of the season — but the Cubs are said to be willing to absorb salary to facilitate a deal.
12:39pm: The Braves are moving closer to finalizing a trade for a starting pitcher, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (on Twitter). GM Frank Wren is known to be looking for starting pitching and reportedly has some interest in Zack Greinke, Ryan Dempster, Jon Lester, Jason Vargas and others.
Braves starters have combined for a 4.34 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 so far this year. The team's rotation currently consists of Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Mike Minor, Jair Jurrjens and newcomer Ben Sheets. Brandon Beachy and Arodys Vizcaino are out for the season with Tommy John surgery, which has diminished the organization's internal options. Here's a look at some potentially available starting pitchers.
This post was first published on Monday, July 23rd.
Dempster
Jon Lester?
Normally, I would say no way, but judging by Ben Cherington’s complete and utter incompetence as a GM (see: Reddick and Lowrie for Bailey, Melancon, and Sweeney, and Youkilis for a bag of balls while eating nearly all of Youk’s contract) and his horrible draft haul, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see him sell low on Lester.
don’t forget to cue in the hiring of bobby v as manager.
They also gave Youk away.
Oh yeah, I forgot about that, and they even ate nearly his entire contract!
Reddick and Lowrie too. (Although at the time those weren’t bad trades for Boston)
To be fair to him, Bailey and Melancon were suppose to be lockdown and nobody could predict Josh Reddick having this kind of power.
All these moves were made by the front office, Cherington is just a media puppet.
I have always liked Lester, but the guy is a total mystery this year.
The Braves apparently called about Lester. A lot of the rumors surrounding the Sox recently have not been initiated by the Red Sox themselves but about teams inquiring about Red Sox talent. The Sox wouldn’t move guys like Lester or Crawford and couldn’t move Beckett if they wanted to.
I’m going Garza
Bringing back Kenny Powers?
Good move Wren.
Wow they deal Tehran straight for Garza. Crazy!
Joe Blanton.
Please tell me it is Josh Beckett, because I can’t sit here and watch Beckett help destroy the Red Sox.
Ten bucks and a tootsie pop says it’s Dempster.
I agree I bet Dempster
Wandy, just because there hasn’t been much talk about him. Wren stays away from the obvious options.
I could see it being Wandy. As an Astros fan, I’m just glad that it’s Luhnow who would be doing the negoations with Wren instead of Ed Wade…
Its either Dempster or somebody not “known to be on the market” by the media.
Please be Greinke.
I think there would be more rumors floating around if a deal for Greinke was close
They could be moving someone off the big club (maybe two). Constanza got recalled from AAA.
To replace Diaz.
fact
Darnell McDonald
I’m thinking Dempster. Imagine teams aren’t 100% on Garza with the cramp he experienced
and you think teams are sold on dempster who is 35, due regression to the mean and has no team control past this year?
Dempster has a a proven track record since 2008 and currently has the best ERA in baseball. Even if he regresses somewhat, which is not the sure thing that everybody here always argues, he is still a solid #2 this year and at worst, a high-end #3 with the way he is pitching.
He has pitched like a 3 all year, just been extremely lucky, and that is generally what he has been over his career, an average three.
One of Twins Starters,Span and Danny V. for Delgado,Simmons the Catcher and so on?
You must be a twins fan, that trade is just god awful.
Well THAT narrows it down…
Liriano
I think we go out and get two starters …I really do
Dempster today.. Liriano later this week depending on his start today
Wouldn’t surprise me, assuming you’re taking JJ & Minor away. Which we should. I’d LOVE if it was Lester and Greinke 😀
Probably a reaction to Jurrijens’ dismantling yesterday courtesy of the Nats.
No Vargas please.
Knowing FW I wouldn’t doubt it that player was completely off the radar.
Reports say they are close to getting Dempster
Dempster per Bowman
Its Demspter…Jon Heyman just reported that the Braves are getting close on him.
Rick Ankiel is back to pitching. We got ’em. Good job Wren!
Crasnick just reported it’s Dempster too.
How many more years is Gomez under control at Milwaukee? I see a move for Greinke, that’s obviously who he wants, maybe try and get a controllable CF in the deal as well…I think Bourn has played his way out of our pockets, as sad as that is.
Dempster for Jurrjens + Top prospect
No Jurrjens, please.
why would they trade a top prospect for a 2 month rental?
If the Braves get him on the cheap I’m gonna be disappointed Rizzo didn’t try and get him
hopefully dempster is not the only pitcher the braves get this week. still need a front line starter. really dont see dempster going toe to toe with the opposing teams ace in a playoff game
That’s hard to say. Demspter might not have the ace pedigree that some other pitchers have, but he is pitching like an ace this year. If he can keep it up, he should be able to go toe to toe with most pitchers. At worst, he will match up very well with the #2 or #3 pitchers. Besides, you aren’t giving up a ace-pitcher package to get him.
Im ok with the braves going out and getting him. But still dont have an ace or top of the rotation guy. They still have the means to make it happen. I would think the atlanta heat and it being the second half will affect his numbers. Just hope he can go past 5 innings on a regular basis
I dont see Minor, Delgado or obviously Julio going for the rental. at least I hope not.
Delgado going to Brewers. Bowman confirms.
He did say Delgado COULD be the other piece. Though, I figure it may have to be him with his value lowered a little and the lack of other options.
I think you read that wrong. Bowman said he thinks Delgado COULD be on the OTHER side of the deal, meaning going to Chicago.
He confirmed the trade, NOT who is going. It had better not be Randall Delgado for an old rental pitcher.
Seems like its Delgado. I can’t imagine what Cole is worth…
Bowman seems to think we gave up Delgado
If its Delgado, what a horrible trade for the Braves.
Exactly. Wren needs to be fired if he trades 5 years of Randall Delgado for an old, overpaid, over-achieving rental pitcher.
Delgado for Dempster and Soriano
i could see delgado for dempster and reed johnson
I wouldnt think wren would be pulling the trigger on dempster while giving up top prosepcts for a two month rental so I assume cubs arent getting much or wren has talked to dempster about an exstension
David O’Brien @ajcbraves
#Braves believe they’d have good shot at re-signing Dempster, because of history that Wren and Fredi have w/ him from Marlins days.
Garza will be gone either tonight or tomorrow
I hope we’re not done. A bench player or two, and another front line starter (Lester/Greinke) or Lariano at least.
I bet you’re one of those guys who say the yankees buy there team
Well first, we’d be buying low on Lester. We’d also trade away some of our top pitching prospects. We’d also do the same for Greinke if we did it this year – next year we could sign him as a FA and our payroll would barely go over 100m (If even that) – so, not sure how you can assume that – giving we’d still be $100mil under what the Skanks are.
It’s not buying a championship if you’re trading from your farm system.
But, I bet you’re one of those guys who doesn’t know how to use they’re, their & there correctly… wait. You are.
Bowman is hearing Delgado for Dempster.
if it is delgado, we just made a terrible trade again! thanks wren
Dempster has a low ERA this year, doesn’t mean anything.
He has a career losing record and an ERA >4.
Look at his last few seasons, it’s nothing to trade a good prospect for.
You’re using his win-loss record and ERA to determine whether or not he’s a good pitcher? For shame!
Agree. He is also using Dempster’s career ERA, which includes his early years where he struggled, had TJ surgery and spent a few years in the bullpen. This is a common lazy practice around these parts when arguing that Dempster is mediocre. Dempster basically reinvented himself in 2008 when he became a starter again, this should be common knowledge and used as a determining factor for what type of pitcher Dempster is. I would think that people would want to be knowledgeable about a pitcher before creating an opinion, but I guess not.
Haha….so his low ERA this year is meaningless, but his career record has importance? Also, you need to know that Dempster did not become a starter again until 2008, when he basically reinvented himself. Since that time, his ERA and FIP are in the mid 3’s, which is a very good pitcher. So if you look at those seasons, Dempster def. has some value. And considering he has the best ERA in baseball this year, which, like it or not, is significant, he is worth a couple of good prospects, not necessarily top prospects, but good prospects.
I’ve always liked Dempster but the Braves shouldn’t be disappointed if he doesn’t pitch like an ace for them.
They won’t be giving up the package necessary to acquire an ace, so they shouldn’t expect Dempster to pitch like that. However, if Dempster is able to pitch like he has for the rest of the season, which is not out of the question, then they will be getting great value.
anyone else notice how close the listed stats of the braves pitching staff this year are to Dempsters career numbers??? Hope they aren’t giving up more than a 2nd tier pitching prospect