Red Sox sign Ryan Dempster for 2 years 26.5 million

[xnick5757]

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/st...35590120144898

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Red Sox are close to an agreement with Ryan Dempster.

Dempster has turned down multiple two-year offers this winter in search of something a little longer and may have finally found it in his negotiations with Boston. The 35-year-old right-hander posted a solid 3.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 153/52 K/BB ratio across 173 innings this past season between Chicago and Texas. He would bring some reliability to an iffy Red Sox starting rotation.

[tc2deuce]

Up in the air about this signing

[mooz]

I don't like this. I can deal with it if it's a high AAV 2 year deal but if it's a 3 year deal this is bad. I see an ERA of 4.50-5.50 in year two on. Year one he may be able to put together a solid year based on hitters' unfamiliarity with him. I still don't see him being any better than around a 4.00 ERA in year one though. At least he eats innings.

[Gibby23]

Whats up with Rubby De La Rosa? Is he not going to be in the rotation this year?

[Celtic AL]

Whats up with Rubby De La Rosa? Is he not going to be in the rotation this year?

hes going to get a try out this spring but most likely start in AAA. but will be called midseason if ready

[Gibby23]

hes going to get a try out this spring but most likely start in AAA. but will be called midseason if ready

Cool. Want to see him do well.

[mooz]

Cool. Want to see him do well.

Me too. I like that they intend to give him at least a year to recover from TJ surgery before he's assumed to be in the rotation or on the major league club. The guy has exceptional stuff.

[bagwell368]

The AL East isn't quite as terrifying as it used to be. That being said Dempster looks like a 4.30 ERA pitcher to me across 3 years - or about a 102 ERA+. If he pitches ~195 IP x 3, and one of the kids makes it into the rotation by mid '14, look for at least one of: Lester, Buchholz, Lackey to be dealt.

To me, Rubby's intro the bigs will be as a RP, not SP.

[LA Sox Fan]

I don't like this at all. If it's still a 2-year deal, just for more money, then I just dislike it. If it's for 3 years then I absolutely hate it.

Dempster spent his entire career in the NL until he was traded to Texas last season. In his first AL stint he posted an ERA over 5. I realize that it's not based on a huge sample size (12 starts I believe) but the guy is 35 years old. Unless he's aging backwards that doesn't seem like things are trending in the right direction. In what world does this signing make any sense, especially in the AL East?

I'd much rather see the Sox give Morales or De La Rosa or just about anyone a shot before signing Dempster. I don't understand why baseball teams (not just the Sox) can't simply acknowledge when there is a piss-poor FA class and bid accordingly. This is insane.

[wolf82]

I don't like this at all. If it's still a 2-year deal, just for more money, then I just dislike it. If it's for 3 years then I absolutely hate it.

Dempster spent his entire career in the NL until he was traded to Texas last season. In his first AL stint he posted an ERA over 5. I realize that it's not based on a huge sample size (12 starts I believe) but the guy is 35 years old. Unless he's aging backwards that doesn't seem like things are trending in the right direction. In what world does this signing make any sense, especially in the AL East?

I'd much rather see the Sox give Morales or De La Rosa or just about anyone a shot before signing Dempster. I don't understand why baseball teams (not just the Sox) can't simply acknowledge when there is a piss-poor FA class and bid accordingly. This is insane.

I agree. I don't like this signing. 3 years for a 35+ old pitcher. He came to the AL and got lit up. I would have rathered them go after Jackson. He is younger, same amount of innings (200+) and probably would have come cheaper.

[Fla.SticKy]

The AL East isn't quite as terrifying as it used to be. That being said Dempster looks like a 4.30 ERA pitcher to me across 3 years - or about a 102 ERA+. If he pitches ~195 IP x 3, and one of the kids makes it into the rotation by mid '14, look for at least one of: Lester, Buchholz, Lackey to be dealt.

To me, Rubby's intro the bigs will be as a RP, not SP.

For the love of God please let it be J.Lackey! ray:

[Fla.SticKy]

I agree. I don't like this signing. 3 years for a 35+ old pitcher. He came to the AL and got lit up. I would have rathered them go after Jackson. He is younger, same amount of innings (200+) and probably would have come cheaper.

Agreed 100%!

[ricomactaco]

I agree. I don't like this signing. 3 years for a 35+ old pitcher. He came to the AL and got lit up. I would have rathered them go after Jackson. He is younger, same amount of innings (200+) and probably would have come cheaper.

Also agree. Unless Jacksons demands are just absurd.

[wolf82]

Also agree. Unless Jacksons demands are just absurd.

All I know is that Jackson didn't want to go year to year anymore, and wants a multi-year deal.

Last i heard the Nationals offered another 1 yr 10 mil. I would have offered 2 yr/22.5 mil

[JPBoston]

The AL East isn't quite as terrifying as it used to be. That being said Dempster looks like a 4.30 ERA pitcher to me across 3 years - or about a 102 ERA+. If he pitches ~195 IP x 3, and one of the kids makes it into the rotation by mid '14, look for at least one of: Lester, Buchholz, Lackey to be dealt.

To me, Rubby's intro the bigs will be as a RP, not SP.

Haha -- I was just about to say that it's hard to get excited about a probable 4.3 ERA guy.

I understand it if nobody else would be available for the next three years, but why lock ourselves up with an aging middle of the road guy at this point in the team's restructuring?