A total of ten teams have shown "legitimate interest" in acquiring Ryan Dempster according to ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine. Among those ten teams are the Dodgers, Tigers, Yankees, Braves, Indians, and White Sox.
The Cubs are willing to pay part of the approximately $7MM owed to Dempster through the end of the season in order to receive better prospects via trade. Levine says Chicago has begun to scout the lower levels of every farm system in earnest, and they seek young pitching as part of any trade. A highly regarded third base prospect is also high on their list.
Dempster, 35, extended his scoreless streak to 33 innings with six shutout innings today, lowering his season ERA to 1.86. With both Zack Greinke and Cole Hamels reportedly due to receive extension offers before the trade deadline, Dempster could be the best starter realistically available this summer.
TophersReds
EVERYBODY is interested!
Chuy Gutierrez
dodgers are always interested!
Eric Ordoñez
I hope he gets his shot at a World Series ring.
bmoneyy20
i hope he doesnt walk 7 guys
DerekJeterDan
If the Cubs manage to turn this 14 Million Dollar Pitcher into a decent return…
Harry Caray Voice – Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Everybody.
User 4245925809
Don’t take this wrong, cause loved Harry when he was doing those Cubbie games, but he was a lot more fun to listen to after he had broadcast that inning from the CF bleachers and taken in a pint (or 2) and was in a jovial mood.. He held nothing back then.
Have a very hard time understanding how anybody couldn’t have been a Cub fan to some degree if they listened to Harry for any length of time.
His voice, the gravel voice of Jim Woods for various teams, there will never be any like them again.
JakeD
Ron Santo was the same way after the Cubs would be losing 12-1 in the fifth inning.
Eric Foster
You knew the Old Style’s were starting to take over once “Ryne Dunston” came to the plate.
A slurred Jody Davis song, and another 7 beers-
Next thing you know, only 1 in ever 15 words is even remotely coherent.
Steve Stone earned his money those days…
Dock_Elvis
Oh man…..when Rafael Palmeiro came to the plate…he’d butcher half the name…give up and then talk about Pete the Greek who was sitting behind the dugout….or he’d be off on an Arne Harris story. “PPPPOPPPED IT UP!” or “Steve….Luis Salazar is from Latin America…you’d think he’d be used to the sun. How could he drop that ball”
Dock_Elvis
Dempster does that killer Harray Caray voice….I wonder if he does Jimmy Piersall as well.
Jack Dein
The Braves could really use another steady veteran in Dempster. The Cubs are going to have to pay a sizable portion of his salary but I wonder if a package built around Delgado and 2 other low level guys could get it done.
jjs
I bet it could. If Dempster had pitched all year for a contender, he might have 10 wins already. I love the guy but the trade needs to happen already.
cubsfan97
Honestly, I’d take Delgado straight up, but if you wanna throw in a few other arms go for it!
brocnessmonster
NO kidding!!!
thefallensoldier
I think the cubs want a better prospect than delgado….
Jack Dein
They may want more but you gotta remember the Braves get nothing when he leaves as a FA after the season. The value for rental players went down a lot.
thefallensoldier
Still the cubs have a lot of offers and they are looking for more major league ready talent, a 23 year old in high A ball isnt close to that.
Ben
Delgado is 22, and he’s pitched in 16 games this year…
thefallensoldier
Thats my fault, i was looking at the wrong delgado.
David Brunner
Always refreshing when anonymous board people own up to small mistakes. Well done, sir.
Brandon Miller
Cubs wouldn’t have a problem paying most of Dempter’s contract. And yes, I believe a Dempster + cash for Delgado+ would without a doubt get it done.
C.S.
I thought cashman was quoted in not being interested in making trades by the deadline. what happened? now their interested?
Jorden
“The Cubs are willing to pay part of Dempsters salary in order to
receive better prospects” – Same reason the Dodgers passed on Youkilis.
aemoreira81
Sure, but you can never have enough pitching. The trouble with the Cubs’ thinking in part may be that Dempster is 35.
David Brunner
I don’t see what his age has to do with the “Cubs thinking”? Can you explain what you mean?
aemoreira81
On that, it may have to do with what kind of prospects can be expected for a player who is likely a rental.
Eric Foster
Beltran for Wheeler.
Supply and demand.
The Cubs won’t pull off that kind of return, but they’ll get someone’s top 5-10 prospect.
Seth Yerington
Hope the Yankees stay away….don’t need to see this clown walk 7 batters in the ALDS.
Guest 4410
u mad bro?
Eric Foster
Uhm, Freddy Garcia is in your rotation. Right now. That’s happening.
jjs
The Cubs need a guy who is ready for the rotation now. I mean, if Demp is traded, do they stick Volstad, Casey Coleman, or Randy Wells back in there? Gross. They also are moving Trey McNutt to the bullpen, so there goes another possible starter, who was billed as their best frontline starter prospect. Delgado yes. Don’t count out the White Sox making a strong play for Dempster either. Danks is in limbo right now. How about that lefty Pedro Hernandez (who just got moved up to AAA & has thrown well) that the Sox got from San Diego for Quentin, and AAA lefty Charlie Leesman, low profile guys I know, but hmmmm. The White Sox also have hard throwing relievers up the wazoo, like Santiago or maybe that Rienzo guy. Dempster & Camp for three of them. Cubs need volume. The White Sox pretty much almost have to go for it this year with their team built the way it is, so.
CHendershott
I could get behind that, Dempster and Camp would be huge for the White Sox. Just know that the WSox will not be trading anyone from their ML roster, or at least no more than one bullpen arm. I’d be willing to part with anyone outside Reed or Jones. And it’s pretty much a given that Thornton won’t go, they need to add veterans, not subtract.
Eric Foster
The White Sox have no one in their bare pantry system that would interest the Cubs.
Kenny could get Camp for an organizational filler type prospect.
But, not any of the Cubs major trade chips.
Yes, the Cubs are about to trot some real chumps out there. We’ll likely see quite a bit of Randy Wells and Chris Volstad.
We’re not meant to compete this year, so it’s a lost cause.
Take the prospects and the #1 draft pick next year.
As for McNutt, the move to the bullpen was overdue.
I was really hoping he could start, but he’s just in no way economical with his pitches. He could close one day.
However, other than Maples, the most promising arms in the system came from this years draft.
Guest 4409
As a Cubs fan, this anticipation leading up to the trade deadline is awesome.
drabidea
Normally I would say get ready for the let down but I have a feeling some team out there will pay too much for these rental players so you may be right.
sheilendr
wrong. Theo will go for another failed 5th starter reclamation project as long as he was a first-round draft pick 4 or 5 years ago.
petrie000
you seem to be laboring under the misguided impression that any team but the Marlins had any real interest in 2011-era Carlos Zambrano…
With the current market and so few real sellers out there, The Cubs probably will make out like bandits this deadline.
Eric Foster
Agreed.
jrodhard
I’m sure the cubs would pay every penny of dempster’s salary to get the best possible return for him, be it in volume and/or higher end prospects. don’t believe for a second that a team won’t give up whatever it takes to win now, be it for dempster or grienke or anyone else, regardless of what they might get or not get in 2013. A GM who wins a world series can buy himself years on a contract and plenty of mulligans if he can get that ring for his organization.
David Brunner
And this includes so many more teams with the extra WC. While I’m not a fan at all of the extra WC, I think it will certainly help the Cubs maximize return this year.
sdsuphilip
Dempster isn’t putting a team over the top for a world series, Grienke or Hamels might tho.
natural_light
Yeah guy you are right that is why 1/3 of all major league teams are interested in trading for RYAN DEMPSTER!
drabidea
They are interested because it will cost the team less for Dempster. Most of the teams are going to ask what the cubs want and they will say get bent. There will be one team that falls for Hoyer’s plan and overpay for him, the rest are just looking for a cheap pitcher.
aemoreira81
Ryan Dempster if nothing else is an innings eater, however…who will keep your bullpen fresh.
jill
That is a valuable commodity as the teams enter the final months of the season. Dempster is a bit more than ‘innings eater’-he has actually put up a string of 33 scoreless innings. Not too shabby considering he’s been trade rumor mill grist for a couple of months now. He also has playoff experience and bullpen experience. He would be a big help to a lot of pitching staffs.
It’s nice that the Cubs are going to honor Dempster’s 10-5 year rights. Um, don’t they have to?
gothamgator
and a 1.86 ERA on the year
Eric Foster
No.
Grienke can’t handle a big stage.
Hamels will cost twice as much as Dempster, and provide the same results.
Dempster is at the top of his game. He’s the better option.
Nicholas
yankees get:dempster-dejesus
cubs get:adam warren,ramiro pena,darnell mcdonald, low a pitcher
yes no????
David Brunner
So…Cubs get zero of the Yanks top ten prospects? Really?
Come back with something realistic.
gothamgator
wait, the yankees actually still have “prospects” in their system?
sportsnut969
It would be more like
Slade Heathcott / Dante Bichette / Adam Warren / Bryan Mitchell
For those 2 guys Dempster-Dejesus And I’m not for sure DeJesus is a real need.
So a real offer for a 2 month rental with the Yankees paying the rest of Dempster contract may be Heathcott or Bichette + Warren just for Dempster.
The Cubs will not receive a top 5 prospect type for a Rental that will average a 4 + ERA in the American league JMHO but the previous offer was a joke IMHO McDonald LOL.
Now in Cleveland who is very interested in Dempster and Soriano in the right deal there is a rumor that The Cubs and Indians have been talking various different types of deals involving several different players that would solve most of the issues the Indians are currently looking to fill the latest rumors floating around and reported on 92.3 The fan has the following being talked about.
The Cubs get The indians top 2 prospect SS Francisco Lindor # 1 prospect / Dillon Howard Starter and #2 Prospect as well as Chen Lee 1st base Prospect W/ AAA Infielder Jason Donald and major League ready Starter Jeanmar Gomez.
The Indians receive Dempster + 3 mil toward the 7 mil owed this year Soriano + 30 mil of the remaining 44 mil owed on his contract + Jeff Samardzija & Dan Vogelbach Cubs 2nd round draft pick from 2011 ( I think he would need to be a Play To Be Named depending on his signing date last year ).
petrie000
you had me until Samardzija was mentioned as going to the Indians. I think the Cubs are still high on him at this point and wouldn’t include him in a deal that brings back a 1b and an ss prospect. Those are pretty much the only two positions the Cubs seem set on at the major league level for the next 5 years.
ECDevils
I agree that the Cubs would be selling low on Samardzija in the rumored Indians trade proposal. It would be fairly reasonable if the Indians removed Jason Donald and added another descent to high upside pitching prospect with the Cubs providing more salary relief/or an additional prospect. However, I wanted to point out that Chen Lee is actually a 25 yo rhp. According to MLB top 20 prospect for each team (beginning of season) Chen Lee is ranked 6th and has an outstanding fastball with plus movement and deceptive delivery along with a solid slider. Also from the Cubs perspective, they should definitely try to acquire SS Francisco Lindor. He has outstanding potential, and since SS is a premier position the Cubs could always trade a top tier SS prospect for other needs down the road.
sportsnut969
Chen is also a catcher and Lindor is 3 years off and is thought will move to 3rd or LF by the time he makes it to the majors.
I thought the same about Samardzja and totally agree if there is any truth to this there must be someone else involved.
The original rumors I had heard was the Indians in on Garza IMHO Dempster in the American league will drive his ERA above 4.5.
So I’m not that interested in Dempster.
But Soriano will solve the LF issue & I like Dan Vogelbach as a prospect.
petrie000
If i’m not mistaken the Indians have a fairly well stocked farm system, don’t they?
If they’re interested in Dempster/Garza, Samardzija AND Soriano…. well, that could be a hell of a blockbuster, wouldn’t it?
Dynasty22
No.
ultimate913
No point in Yanks even getting involved. Like David said above, it would take top prospects. With Sabathia coming back on Tuesday and Pettitte early September, there is no need for him. Especially at that price.
Eric Foster
Not even close.
bigpat
Pirates please!!!
David Brunner
What would the Pirates be offering, in your opinion? They have a few A prospects and then a gap. Quite a few B-/C+ guys or very young high upside guys.
Lunchbox45
not 9 teams, and not 11 teams…but 10 teams exactly
Deanie
I would love to see him with the Blue Jays but … I don’t want them to sacrifice a ton of future prospects in order to get a chance to maybe play ONE playoff game this season! But they certainly could use some sort of starter, given the ridiculous amount of injuries to the staff.
therednorth
Unless Dempster agrees to an extension before the trade goes down, I don’t see the Cubs getting any significant haul, at least not from the Jays. ~60 innings is generally speaking NOT worth a top prospect.
jjs
Dempster is 35. He’s a player for the immediate present, for a team trying to get there this year almost exclusively. Thinking past that is thinking too much. Dempster is perfect for teams like the Pirates & White Sox who have found themselves in the middle of a race. Braves too I think, because they’d love to get to the WS one last time for Chipper. Pirates have desperation on their side, the White Sox have that & tons of volume pitching prospect wise, and the Braves have guys like Minor & Delgado who are just there, very average or below after formerly being top prospects. Just my thoughts.
sheilendr
probably true, but Dempster is also a machine with his work ethic and has generally been healthy since his tommy john, he might have several good years left. Nobody is Jamie Moyer, but I can see demp pitching til 40.
gothamgator
I’ll give you Minor being average (though if it wasn’t for his propensity to give up the damn long ball, he’d actually be having a pretty solid year… so many solo HRs).
On the other hand, Delgado should still be considered a top prospect. He’s going through some growing pains (he’s 22), sure, but still has top of the rotation written all over him. He’s young, and probably could’ve used another year in aaa to develop. He’s been very streaky in his time with the big club this year, but when he’s been on, he’s thrown a few gems.
sourbob
All-purpose trade discussion comment. (Feel free to clip and save for later use!)
“Sure, we’d take [desirable player], but no way are we giving up [list of top prospects] and the other team would have to cover his salary. We’ll give you [fading prospect too old for his level], [bench player nobody wants], or [major league player who doesn’t fit your needs.]”
sheilendr
excellent
BlueSkyLA
Your job here is done!
clark182
You forgot to add, “If you don’t take that package, we’ll just pick up [player who has been picked up and waived multiple time this year or has been available all season]”