Dempster Has Not Thought About Player Option

[daddies3angels]

Ryan Dempster is scheduled to start for the Cubs tomorrow, and it might be his last start at Wrigley Field as a Cub. Dempster holds a $14MM player option for next season, but he told MLB.com's Carrie Muskat that he hasn't put much thought into whether or not he'll exercise it yet...

"I never even thought about that," said Dempster. "As a player, you just want to see where everything's going and what direction they want to go and things like that more than anything. You know how much I love playing here. Hopefully, it's not just about staying here for next year but staying past next year. I'll worry about what's on the field first."

Dempster added that there are a lot of factors that will go into the decision, which is understandable. The free agent market for starters is quite thin beyond CC Sabathia (assuming he exercises his opt-out) and C.J. Wilson, so it's not a stretch to say Dempster would be the third best pitcher available and the top righty (ahead of Edwin Jackson).

The 34-year-old Dempster is in the middle of his worst season as a Cub, pitching to a 4.66 ERA in 183 1/3 innings across 31 starts. Unless he pitches very deep into the game in his last two starts, he'll fail to crack the 200 innings plateau for the first time since moving back into the rotation in 2008. It's worth noting that his strikeout (8.7 K/9), walk (3.4 BB/9), and home run (1.0 HR/9) rates are right in line with his previous seasons.

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[daddies3angels]

I just assumed he would just pick up the option BUT if Cubs decide to go with total youth movement he might want to go somewhere that is trying to win. Now lets say Cubs decide to spend money do Cubs go to him and offer him 2-3 year deal with less salarly per year?

 

[dabynsky]

Hard to see him turn down 14 million, but perhaps that would be the smart move for Dempster financially as well. The class of free agent pitchers this year looks to be weaker than next year's (though that might not turn out to be the case in the long run), and so his odds of getting one more good 3 or more year deal might be this offseason.

I still think at the end of the day he picks up his option, and is one of 2 locks for the rotation next season.

 

[brett05]

In the open market I would say Dempster is a 3 year 25-35 million dollar type pitcher

 

[dabynsky]

In the open market I would say dumpster is a 3 year 25-35 million dollar type pitcher

3 years 35 million is probably a better deal for Dempster than what he would get with his option and a new deal after the option year deal. It will be interesting to see what he chooses since most people I think had this as a foregone conclusion that he would pick up his option.

 

[brett05]

Me too, but I always think winning players at this late age desire to play on a winner. That rules out the Cubs in the near future. (also rules out the White Sox just so no one thinks this is my typical "I hate the Cubs")

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

3 years 35 million is probably a better deal for Dempster than what he would get with his option and a new deal after the option year deal. It will be interesting to see what he chooses since most people I think had this as a foregone conclusion that he would pick up his option.

i certainly hope he does, but you may be right in that we wont give him the same kind of contract he will in an open market(just the nature of FA)

 

[inactiveuser1]

i bet he takes it, he loves chicago! i wouldnt mind seeing him come to the sox though