Rosenthal's Latest: Johnson, Peavy, Dempster

It's very refreshing to see Hendry not break the bank for Dempster. I think that 4/41 is a fair offer for a pitcher coming off of his career year. He's older so this gets him the gauranteed years with a fair price.

Dempster should keep in mind that he did quite well on his last contract considering where he was coming from, not to mention that the Cubs pulled him off the scrap heap and were generously patient with him. I'm not saying he owes the team anything other than what he's already done, but if he's intent on making $15 million per year or something let's hope the parting is amicable. Kudos to Hendry for making a good offer, 4-yrs and $41 million or so is good for Dempster, the money is right but the contract is a little long. I'd say both sides could live with it though.

we will throw in Ceda if you thrown in Greene. So we can flip him to BAltimore for Roberts (obviously not straight up)

I would give Dempster 4 years 50 mil if that will keep him here.

uww,

Dempster is not worth no 4/50. He's not even worth 4/41. Maybe 2-3/16-24 at most he is worth. If any team offers him over $8 million/year, they need a new GM.

Dempster is beong totally overvalued...give me a break. The guy had a few solid years, can we stop treating him like a future HOF'er. And screw the Pads, I've had enough of there stalling, either make a deal or don't.

I have been arguing with Cubs fans for a week now but you guys arnt the enemy ... Towers is. I hope the Braves get him but if not I hope the Cubs totally fleece him and he loses his job. Some one should investigate Towers and Axelrod for collusion.

People forget that this isnt the first time Dempster has done well in the starting role. He won 14 and 15 games as a allstar with the Marlins. Whats to say he wont do it again. And if he wins 14 then the money is worth it. He is also one of the best clubhouse guys on the team. IMO I believe the Cubs need him and he would be worth 10 - 12 mil a year.

Well these latest comments pretty much confirm what I've thought all along:

Hendry's laid all his cards on the table and been right upfront with Towers the whole time about what his best offer is.

Towers likes Hendry's offer enough to keep the Cubs in the mix but would like to squeeze a better package out of the Braves.

Meanwhile Wren is playing hardball and refusing to offer up that better package.

Now the endgame is upon us.

Either Towers will take the Cubs' best package, or he'll take the Braves' "hardball" package.

Give them Locke if they will take Gorkys and Reyes. Schafer can be our center fielder this year and Morton is a lot better than you all think. I will be thrilled if we keep morton despite his stats he was lights out in half his starts. He matched C.C pitch for pitch one sunday afternoon. He's solid.

If these reports are true, it is looking like Hendry is doing a good job on both the Dempster and Peavy possibilities.

BravesRed,

You might not like the fact Dempster will get over 8 mil per, but the market 'is what it is' and GMs know it. Personally, I am comfortable with 3 years for Dempster, knowing 4 years is reality and 5 years is too long. He will get what he gets though.

I feel that every time a deal isn't done quickly and without speculation someone comes out and says the target is probably about to get hurt.

You'd think people realize the extent of physicals on these players before trades, can we stop with the all-knowing GM crap?

The other thing about Dempster is that while last year was career type, it could happen again. Last offseason he really, really (used it twice on purpose to prove my point) worked hard on conditioning. Something that he has not done to that level in the past. It paid off. Hopefully, he works that hard this offseason. Maybe 17 wins and an ERA around 3 will happen again.

The other thing is even though he is 32, he has been the closer the last few years, while he recovered. Less wear and tear on a 32 year old arm/shoulder over that time. His younger days had a lot of gooffing off and was questioned in conditioning. Now he is married with kids and more mature. While that alone does not promise success, it adds to some guys level of success. It depends on the player and how hard they work if they have good stuff, which Dempster does have good stuff.

Bdlugz,

Just seems weird to me. No injuries yet, obviously, but does seem like they are pressing a little too much to get rid of him before the season begins. Like they're nervous or something.

bjsguess,
Typekey is the worst of all time.

Even if the Cubs loose out in Peavy, I hope they can cut a deal for Giles. That includes resigning Dempster and Wood.

**Fans come here and over evaluate their team's players and low ball the other guys team's talent. One thing I have yet to find is anyone...anyone who feels typekey is over evaluated or just plain good.**

mariners fans look for a good team in a few years with the angels and athletics in your division it will be hard this year but then again they could be the rays and come out of no where and do something optimism is a wonderful thing until your teams down and out then....self explanitory elaboration not needed, even though im a dedicated red sox fan its always nice to see a team thats perennially a bad team atleast do sub-par to far exceed expectations its just hard to duplicate it year in and year out, interested on seeing how the rays do this year.

Once again, a few Cubs fans are convinced their prospects are all going to be superstars and that teams will just throw their players. No one wants Felix Pie. No one wants Cedeno who has been a big bust.

Tommy Hanson has rediculus stuff. Why would atlanta "throw in" a guy who the padres begged for?

I think sometime between now and friday Peavy will go to Atlanta for Escobar/Hernandez/Morton (Maybe JoJo but he's awful) and one of our pitchers. I've heard they like Locke along with Tyler Mareck, who came over in the Tex-Kotchman deal.

Cubs have no prospects besides Samardjiza and Theriot(why is he even called a prospect anymore?) and they wont trade either.