Published 11/18/2008
by Matthew Hector
at Bleacher Report - MLB
The Cubs and Ryan Dempster agreed to a four-year contract on Tuesday.
Published reports said the new contract is worth at least $52 million. The signing secures the free agent right-hander's services through 2012.
Dempster went 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA for the Cubs last season after returning to the rotation on a full-time basis for the first time since 2002. He finished in the top seven in the National League in wins, ERA, and strikeouts and made the All-Star team for the first time since 2000.
He set a career high and tied for third in the National League in wins, ranked fourth in the league in ERA and was third with a .227 batting average against. He also allowed only 14 home runs in 206 2/3 innings and turned in 21 quality starts, tied with Ted Lilly for most on the team.
This is a key move by the Cubs, as they return one of their best starters and keep intact their top three guys in the rotation.
(link)
Tags:
Related Content
Cubs close to re-signing Ryan Dempster
msn.foxsports.com 11/18/2008 — The Cubs are close to re-signing free-agent right-hander Ryan Dempster to a four- year contract, according to major-league sources.
Ryan Dempster close to re-signing with Cubs
suntimes.com 11/18/2008 — The Cubs have reached agreement on a multiyear contract with free agent pitcher Ryan Dempster, and the two-time All-Star is expected to sign the deal today, according to multiple sources. It's expected to be a four-year deal worth at least $52 ...
Source: Cubs, Dempster close in on 4-year deal
sports.espn.go.com 11/18/2008 — The Cubs are close to signing right-handed pitcher Ryan Dempster to a four-year contract, and an agreement could be announced as early as Tuesday afternoon, according to a baseball source.
Transaction Analysis: Ryan Dempster back to the Cubs
blogs.trb.com 11/18/2008 — What an odd trajectory Ryan Dempster's career has had. Check it out here. The right-hander has gone from very good starting pitcher, to bad starting pitcher, to decent closer, to, in 2008, excellent starting pitcher. Alas, timing is everything. Wow....
Ryan Dempster Back On The Cubs' Bandwagon? —
Bleacher Report - MLB 11/18/2008
Aerosmith once sang about "the same old story, same old song and dance." Now, the Chicago Cubs are paying for it.
In a deal that could be announced as early as Tuesday afternoon, the Cubs have apparently agreed to terms with surprise starter Ryan ...
Padres not ruling out Braves for Peavy —
Major League Baseball News 11/18/2008
With the Cubs signing Ryan Dempster to a four-year deal on Tuesday, the Padres' latest trade partner for Jake Peavy might no longer be in the market. That means, GM Kevin Towers says, that the Padres might revisit the Braves for a possible deal.
