Ryan Dempster has turned down at least three offers so far this off season.A two year deal with the Brewers for unknown money;2/$25 million from Red Sox and 2/$26 million from Royals.
Dempster wants a three year guaranteed deal.
He is 35, so this is his "last" deal of his career. He wants to cashout high for personal reasons.
But he is 35 and teams don't want to flush starter money downthe toilet.
In 2012, Dempster went 5-5, 2.24 ERA for the Cubs;but then after the trade to Texas, went 7-3, 5.09 ERA.It may have been a harsh adjustment to the AL, or it couldbe age catching up. The latter is what has some GMs worried.
He made $14 million last season, so he expects a raise fora combined 12-8, 3.38 ERA season.
But in his 15 seasons, he is a career 124-124, 4.33 ERA pitcher(with 87 saves).
As the winter meetings ended, most scribes were surprised by the lack of
major signings or major trades. Teams have gotten conservative on
their spending on big-name free agents.
For example, the Rangers decided not to make Josh Hamilton a
$100 million player. So his market was severely limited, as the Yankees
are cutting payroll to get under the luxury tax (and talking about trading
players like Granderson in order to do it) and the Red Sox are taking a
more short term view of players (with the signing of Victorino for 3 years).
That leaves Hamilton with one known suitor, the Mariners, a bad team which
does not want to spend money just for publicity. Seattle may find it easier
to hold on to its pitching talent and trade prospects for a David DeJesus
type outfielder than do a long term deal with Hamilton. But in the end,
the Mariners signed Jason Bay, who was released by the Mets.
So there is a waiting game in progress. Dempster may find more interest
after Greinke signs, but maybe not in a three year deal.
