Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has stated in this offseason that one of his top priorities would be to retain Ryan Dempster. Apparently, four years and $50 million are going to do that trick, and the Cubs are expected to announce the deal today. In fact, radio reports are surfacing in Chicago that the deal is finalized and will be announced any minute. This is really a mutually beneficial signing. Dempster is coming off a career year in which he reinvented himself as a starting pitcher, and he's right in the middle of his prime. Personally, Dempster loves being in Chicago:
"I remember telling Hendry 3-4 years ago I wanted to play for the Cubs. It was one of those things -- they were interested and I'd made up my mind this where I wanted to come."He lives in Wrigleyville and walks to work. Like I said, this is a mutual partnership.
For Hendry, the chore now turns to finding a left-hander hitter to play right field (Bobby Abreu, please) and possibly selling the farm for Jake Peavy. While acquiring Peavy is far from a sure thing, Cubs fans can only dream of this rotation:
Peavy, Carlos Zambrano, Dempster, Ted Lilly, Rich Harden.
Now, if only they could win a playoff game ...
UPDATE: Deal finalized at 4 years and $52 million.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-18-2008 @ 2:12PM
bill said...
I would give my left nut for that rotation... Prob is: if we sell the farm for Peavy, will we have any $$ or prospects left to get that left-handed bat or a trade for Brian Roberts? We really, really need a leadoff hitter damnit
Reply
11-18-2008 @ 2:33PM
Odie said...
Doesn't it seem likely that the retaining of Dempster means the Cubs see their possibility of getting Peavy dwindling.
I know all the talk about how much they are willing to spend, but with the team itself still on the market for a potential owner, I can't see the current owner breaking the bank with the possibility of making the sale impossible.
Then again bringing a World Series to the northside would certainly bring a quick return on your investment.
And if the Cubs were to sell the farm and get Peavy, no there would be nothing left for a left handed bat and definitely not enough for Roberts. Hendry couldn't make that deal last year, and certainly couldn't this year if he manages to acquire Peavy.
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12-05-2008 @ 9:43PM
Joel said...
Cubs could trade Marquis, Vitters and Hill, Cedeno and Pie and Fudome to Baltimore and SD and get Roberts and Peavy.
SD would get Olson, Vitters and Hill
Baltimore would get Pie, Cedeno and Marquis and Fukudome.
If the Cubs can pull this off they would add no additional salary in fact shed some and then get Abreu.
Roberts
Lee
Abreu
Ramirez
Soriano
DeRosa
Soto
Theriot
an amazing lineup
A pitching rotation of Peavy, Z, Dempster, Lilly and Harding
the line up and SP will be the best in baseball.
Bull Pen above ave as well.
Cubs finally would have the best team in baseball after 100 years.