Dempster’s Option Picked Up
The Cubs exercised their option on Ryan Dempster today. The Cubs will pay $2M to Dempster in 2005.
The price tag is a bit steep for a middle reliever with a lifetime ERA 14% below adjusted league average (mostly as a starter) and 1.5 K/BB ratio. The Cubs, however, may make Dempster their closer, something that was reportedly considered this summer. The Chicago Tribune’s Dave van Dyck opines that if Dempster is made the closer, “he would be one of baseball’s best bargains” next year. I guess. Though there is not much in Dempster’s history—outside of his one good year as a starter in 2000—that suggests he will be a shutdown reliever. As I said in July, though, if Dempster were made the closer, it would free LaTroy Hawkins up to pitch in the often more crucial setup innings.
Dempster would be a better bargain if he won the 5th starter’s job and pitched effectively out of that role. That is also a possibility for 2005.