Sox, Dempster working toward deal
Last season, Ryan Dempster hurled two stellar games against the Boston Red Sox, allowing no earned runs over 13 2/3 innings. Now in the offseason, with the Sox in desperate need of a starter, Boston is trying to strike a deal with Dempster, according to The Boston Globe.
Last week, Dempster, who split last season with the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers, turned down a deal from the Sox that was worth two years and $25 million. His agent, however, has contacted the Sox trying to land the pitcher a larger deal.
“They’re overpaying for shorter term,” said one manager. “The team that gives him three at market or close to market will get him, but the Red Sox may hike up the average annual value on two years and get it done that way.”
The one problem with picking up Dempster is his history against American League clubs. It is well documented that Dempster has had most of his success against the National League, and he has only pitched in the AL for half of a season. While with the Cubs last season, he pitched to a 5-5 record wit a 2.25 ERA. His stats with the Rangers are far more bleak, however, as he went 7-3 with a 5.09 ERA in 12 starts.
The games that Dempster had the most difficulty with were the ones against solid American League lineups as the Angles crushed him in three starts, the Yankees lit him up for eight runs over six innings and Oakland left Dempster with five runs in three innings.
Over the course of his career, Dempster’s interleague record is 11-15 with a 4.63 ERA.
So is it worth it to pick up Dempster, who will turn 36 in the beginning of May? It might just work out for the Red Sox as Dempster is known to work hard, pitching more than 200 innings for the Cubs in four straight seasons.
