CUBS GIVE DEMPSTER 4 YEAR CONTRACT

The Cubs and Pitcher Ryan Dempster agreed to a 4 year deal today worth about 52 million dollars. As reported by the Trib, the numbers to the deal are as follows...

Dempster will receive a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million in 2009, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011, with a player option of $14 million for 2012.

Word on the street is that Dempster was going to get offered more by either Toronto, NYM, NYY, ATL, or LA, but Dempster chose to give the Cubs a home town discount, and sign early.

I personally think we slightly overpaid for Dempster, and I wanted to see more than one solid year before giving him such a long term deal. I also would rather have Peavy over Dempster, but, Dempster is one of the leaders of our ballclub, and he put up a great season last year, so maybe he deserves it. Pitchers are generally paid big money too, and his deal is pretty close to other pitchers who put up similar numbers. Hopefully in these upcoming seasons, Dempster can be the solid, consistent pitcher he was last season. And hopefully he can solidify the clubhouse with his leadership as well. Both sides definitely seemed happy that the deal is done, and that Dempster is a Cub once again, so all is well right now in Cubland.

Let's see how this signing affects the Peavy situation, but everything I am hearing now, is not good in regards to Peavy. It looks like the Cubs are instead going to look towards getting a lead off hitter in Chone Figgins or Brian Roberts. I'll keep you guys posted with that and any other Cubs news. GO CUBS GO!!!