Gibsons' Ryan Dempster is staying in the Windy City, and he has 52 million reasons why.
The right-hander agreed to a $52 million, four-year contract with an option in 2012 with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. Dempster gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011. He has a 2012 option for $14 million.
Dempster finished this season with a record of 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA then filed for free agency. Dempster has always wanted to stay in Chicago, as he has said in several interviews with Coast Reporter, including a one-on-one interview in Chicago in September, 2007 and again in an exclusive interview with Coast Reporter in January when Dempster was home after Christmas to spend time with his family.
He got his wish on Tuesday, and according to Yahoo Sports, is elated at getting the deal done.
On the opening day of spring training, Dempster boldly predicted that the Cubs would win the World Series. The Cubs won their division and finished with the best record in the National League, but were ousted in the first round of the playoffs in three games by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dempster was tagged with the opening game loss, lasting only 42/3 innings, giving up four runs while matching a career high with seven walks.
Last week, the Cubs traded for Florida reliever Kevin Gregg and let go free agent reliever Kerry Wood, a move that some speculated would allow general manager Jim Hendry the cash to sign other free agents and bring back Dempster. With Tuesday's lock up of the Gibsons product, it appears Hendry has followed through on those plans.
