Was Re-signing Dempster a mistake?

[The Sheik]

Nobody will take Marquis.

Jake Peavy is 4 yrs younger...clearly a better pitcher and now pretty much the only reason we cant acquire him is salary concerns.

Peavy > Dempster

The better question is Dempster worth an Abreu, Ibanez, Bradley?

[Posey H8er]

The fact that we were able to sign Dempster for the price we got, I would say it was a bargain. Of course Peavy is better and younger, but I think the Cubs felt they couldn't lose Dempster and have their only hope of upgrading their staff in acquiring Peavy.

If the Cubs are able to sign a Bradley or Abreu as well as land Peavy by dumping guys like Marquis, then this will have been a remarkable offseason.

[The Sheik]

I agree that it was a good deal. The contract is quite back-loaded as well.

If we want to add that LH Bat we have to move DeRo and Marquis. I dont want to move DeRo, but we dont have much of a choice. Kosucky is immovable, as is Soriano.

After letting Wood go, trading Ceda for Gregg and not offering arbitration to anyone I would think they have to make a big move to save face with the fans.

The reality of the Chicago Cubs is that we have 3 yrs to win a world series. You cant worry about payroll and all that right now. We decide to be one of "those" teams(meaning the Yankees) so we have to try and win this by any means necessary. Otherwise it will be the same old story and we will be trading Aramis and D-Lee for spare parts in a few yrs.

[Howling Mad]

I like the contract a lot. We took a big chance on Demp when he came here and I thought it was a good gamble. Payed off, big. Now after taking a chance on him, he signs a hometown friendly contract. ALL THAT, makes me feel good about the signing.

When Demp was resigned, there was nothing telling us Peavy was a for sure deal, therefor I don't regret it, we gotta continue to move on with the club, no matter what deal 'could happen'.

After resigning Demp, the rotation was pretty much set to be a pitching powerhouse, now adding Peavy would put us past the RedSox and Angels, as far as pitching.

There was no way to keep Demp waiting, sign Peavy, have an overage of pitchers, then try to get rid of one. By then, Demp would've been more expensive because of FA, and teams looking for a pitcher would have the leverage over us knowing we have a surplus, so yea... I like how its turning out so far.

[WAYSA]

I just don't understand the point of rushing and signing Dempster while talking to the Padres about Peavy.

Does anyone think some team was going to run out and sign Dempster? CC just got signed yesterday.

Jim Hendry dropped the ball again. Not a shocker.

I would honestly not be surprised to see Dempster get figured out next year in the NL and be a very average pitcher. I just don't buy his success last year for whatever reason. I will admit though, he was incredible last year. I hope I am wrong, but after watching Dempster for years I can't buy it.

[ChronicKerr]

After looking at the structure of the deal, I can't complain. If he had requested anymore than he got I would have said let him walk for his few prior years of suckiness he exuberated on the mound prior to last year in which which leads me to believe there's no way he'll ever pitch as good as he did last year. He was amazing last year and probably could have gotten more elsewhere. I liked his attitude last year but he sucked starting game 1 in the playoffs when it mattered. The only thing I can complain about is if signing Dempster is the "sole" reason for costing us Peavy. For that i will never know.

[SportsWorld]

Wrong. Hendry dropped the ball when he signed Soriano to an abysmal contract.

[DanTown8587]

The Dempster deal won't cripple the Cubs like Soriano will, but lets review something:

2.01
1.63
1.36
1.56
1.58
1.50
1.76
1.40
1.43
1.51
1.34
1.21

That is Dempster's career WHIP. Let me just say I don't think he all of the sudden figured it out and is now going to dominate like his contract warrants. And let me say I disagree with every move so far by Hendry

1. Trade Ceda for Gregg
He traded maybe the better, cheaper, younger pitcher while being concerned about payroll. Explain that to me
2. Resign Dempster
He paid Dempster's career year and granted it was cheaper than market value but it still wasn't cheap.
3. Let Wood walk
Its REALLY hard to close out games in the MLB and every great team has a great closer. Woody was close, Marmol/Gregg are HUGE question marks.

[GYBE]

In an offseason where AJ Burnett is going to get a 5/80 deal, Dempster's contract was a great move.

DanTown, I think he very well may have figured things out. Remember, he changed his delivery this year. If hitters started knocking him around later in the year I might agree that 2008 was an outlier, but he was incredibly consistent all season long. I think it may very well have been a permanent breakout.

Of course I agree the Ceda/Gregg/Wood situation was handled terribly. But I liked Hendry signing Dempster quickly. Prices for pitchers only seem to be rising in the market now as teams are trying to outdo each other.

[Fukudome1]

ya look at these deals getting signed right now, demps contract was a bargain, hes a big part of this team not only on the mound, but also in the club house. cant lose him. were better with him.

plus i still think were gonna end up with peavy in the end.