Hendry can't like hearing this. Maybe the cubs should let Dempster walk and try to acquire a true ace like Lowe or Peavy?

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8748 ... 162&ATT=49

Peavy is still signed with the Padre's, so the Cubs would have to trade for him. Lowe has already stated that he would prefer to return to Boston. Dempster is giving himself leverage by filing for free agency. Thats a smart move. But it does not mean that he does not want to stay with the Cubs. I expect he will.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I thought he'd stay also but this definitely changes things. Hendry was hoping to sign him to a 'hometown discount' (4yr/$48 mil?) before he hits the open market. What happens if a team like the Yanks or Dodgers come in with a 4yr/$60 mil offer? For that kind of money I think it would be smarter to let him walk and acquire (either by free agency OR trade) a true ace because Dempster showed in the playoffs he's not a #1 starter.

Since when is Lowe considered a true ace?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Lowe is an ace. Since he made the switch to starter in 2002 he's averaged 15 wins a season, posted an e.r.a. in the low 3's, and Several postseason victories including 3 clinch games in 2004.

I guess because he's a sinkerball pitcher and not a huge strikeout guy he gets overlooked.

"Yeah well Mickey Mantle or not I own the inner half of that plate"
Kramer

My advice to Dempster would be: GET AWAY! GET AWAY FROM HERE AS FAST AS YOU CAN! SAVE YOUR DIGNITY AND GO TO WHERE YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN! TAKE A PAY CUT, DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO, JUST GET OUT!

I view Lowe as a big game pitcher, but I do not consider him to be an ace.

A good sinker and 15 wins a year is all it takes now?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Kinda sadly,yes.

I dont have the exact numbers but i doubt theres more than 4 or 5 pitchers who average over 15 Wins over 5 plus years.

That was enough for Jon Garland

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hate to say it, because he was the most consistent pitcher on the staff most of the year, and i really like the guy, but anyone who offers him 4 years, let alone 5, should get him, and it shouldn't be the cubs. id love to see him back, but not at those rates. i wont fault him for bolting though, he has earned his chance at a big payday, and if he can get it, good for him.

Looks like they are about to agree on a 4 year deal.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8812 ... 162&ATT=49

4 years for a pitcher who started full-time for the first time since 2002? That seems a bit crazy.

Yeah he'll have a longer deal than obama

If this is true what is the limit before you feel the Cubs overpaid to keep him?
I didn't see any numbers in the article. 4 yrs, $52 million is $13 million a year.
I think if you pay more than that it may be too much for Dempster.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Honestly, I think anything over 4/50 is paying too much. We're in the same range. I'd have to guess on the open market he's a 3/40-45 type pitcher. This is likely he last BIG payday given his age so I can understand his desire for the 4th year. I wouldn't be surprised to see an option 4th year on the deal that vests with certain targets, etc.

The Cubs would be much better suited to let Dempster walk and do whatever they need to get Peavy on the Northside. Peavy is proven. Dempster is not fullproof.

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I do not think them signing Dempster has anything to do with whether they get Peavy or not. Peavy may still be a Cub.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

With Peavy and all the posturing by the Padres, I just see him staying a Padre until the trade deadline next year. They say they are not asking for a big package in return but they have turned down multiple deals.

But if they can get Peavy, get him and use the $ saved from not paying Dempster is another capacity.

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Cubs close to re-signing righty Dempster
The Cubs, moving to address one of their off-season priorities, are close to re-signing free-agent right-hander Ryan Dempster to a four- year contract, according to major-league sources.

The deal will be worth slightly more than $50 million, sources said.

The return of Dempster would not necessarily make the Cubs less likely to trade for Padres right-hander Jake Peavy, sign free-agent lefty Randy Johnson or pursue any other player.

Their next steps likely would depend upon the wishes of the team's new ownership group, which is expected to be selected before Christmas, sources said.

Dempster, 31, went 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA last season while starting full-time for the first time since 2002. He filed for free agency, but his first choice has been to remain with the Cubs.

The question with Dempster is whether he could repeat his performance of 2008, his first converting back to starting after three seasons as the Cubs' closer. He underwent elbow surgery in '03, but his only injury since then was a strained left oblique in '07.

The Cubs wanted to secure at least one starting pitcher for a rotation that already includes right-handers Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden and left-hander Ted Lilly.

The team also wants to acquire a left-handed hitting outfielder and could enter the mix for free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal depending upon the outcome of the sale and any other additions that general manager Jim Hendry might make.

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"so now you fools know the TRUTH!"

I hope I am wrong, but I think they will regret giving dempster this money.

4/$52 isn't terrible and it's something they had to do. Plus I'm not getting shutout in the free-agent frenzy! 14 pts! Woo-hoo!!!!!

At first glance, I have no problem with the deal. He's shown greater durability of late than Peavy if not a better body of work before this previous season. Should the Cubs manage to land Peavy in addition to this deal... My, my, my. That would be a pleasant surprise. It would have the potential to be as good a starting five as there is in baseball.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Seems like a pretty good deal to me.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Good, use all those the guys they were going to give up for Peavy to get a lefty with some pop or a lead-off guy.

Come on dude. A lot of people said he was a waste when we picked him up off injury, and he played well, played well enough to land himself in a closer roll with other qualified candidates, then when he became a starter everyone thought that was terrible or he'd do terrible. He excelled last year. Enough so that he got to open the playoffs.
Why would you say that he's a waste man? When, besides that one last game, did he look like a waste?

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Assuming similar offensive statistics for the Cubs, Demp is gonna do just fine as a starter. You can go ahead and count on that 14 games, maybe even more. And the Cubs pay their 14 game guys very well.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I usually am.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Call me surprised if Dempster puts up the kind of numbers that he did last season ever again. I think he's more likely to have an ERA around where Ted Lilly has been, around 4.00.

I'm almost in 100% agreement with Frank on a Cubs issue. I'd rather have Peavy than Dempster. I think Ryan was a one-year wonder. I hope I'm wrong (wouldn't be the first time). But I also didn't want to see the Cubs sell the farm in order to get Peavy.

You can call me crazy, but if Peavy is out of the picture, I'd like the Cubs to take the one-year flyer on Randy Johnson. This way you have Marshall and Marquis to fill in for Harden and Johnson when they need rest.