Ryan Dempster to Red Sox, 2 years, $26.5 million

[Invader3K]

Being reported by the usuals on Twitter.

[SRB]

I would have been alright with that deal. Will be interesting to see what Melvin does now. (Anybody but Lohse, please...)

[TooLiveBrew]

Bullet dodged. Good judgment, Doug.

[Raw Biz]

For only two years, that isn't a bad deal. I would've done that, especially considering we are looking at Estrada as our #2 (and perhaps Fiers, Peralta, Rogers behind him). I would have felt a lot more comfortable with another established guy in there, especially at only a 2 year commitment.

[TURBO]

Ok, this is great news as long as it doesn't mean we are now all in on Lohse...

[splitterpfj]

When you look at the dollar amounts for both Dempster and Hamilton, I think if the Brewers were in an "all in" mode, they could have done either deal.

 

It seems as though they've meant what they said...they're cutting the payroll for next year, and they're going to see what the young guys can do.

[patrickgpe]

i'm hoping it just means we are closer to Marcum back here for a 1 year deal.

[ecjimg]

So much for wanting a 3 yr deal, with a team that trains in AZ and close to Illinois.

[torts]

For only two years, that isn't a bad deal. I would've done that, especially considering we are looking at Estrada as our #2 (and perhaps Fiers, Peralta, Rogers behind him). I would have felt a lot more comfortable with another established guy in there, especially at only a 2 year commitment.

 

there are still a lot of starting pitchers out there, even established ones.

[milwaukeesportsfan]

I'm glad. I wanted no part of Dempster. Looks like they might actually give the young guys a look next year. That makes me happy.

[DR28]

Doug already stated if we didn't get Dempster, we are done pursuing other FA SPs... Gonna go with the young Rotation I guess... Good luck with that cuz were not the A's!

[Raw Biz]

For only two years, that isn't a bad deal. I would've done that, especially considering we are looking at Estrada as our #2 (and perhaps Fiers, Peralta, Rogers behind him). I would have felt a lot more comfortable with another established guy in there, especially at only a 2 year commitment.

 

there are still a lot of starting pitchers out there, even established ones.

 

Yeah but he said after Dempster, they were basically done. I know you're not always supposed to believe everything a GM says but in this case, I think I do.

[DR28]

For only two years, that isn't a bad deal. I would've done that, especially considering we are looking at Estrada as our #2 (and perhaps Fiers, Peralta, Rogers behind him). I would have felt a lot more comfortable with another established guy in there, especially at only a 2 year commitment.

 

there are still a lot of starting pitchers out there, even established ones.

 

Yeah but he said after Dempster, they were basically done. I know you're not always supposed to believe everything a GM says but in this case, I think I do.

 

I agree... Wow Doug, what a wonderful Off-season plan of doing nothing you have!! BRAVO!! We'll be lucky to finish above the Cubs for last place.

[brewmann04]

It still only Mid Dec Guys still plenty of time for something to happen.

If not we have alot of Young arms that are hungry for a rotation spot.

[brewtank34]

I'm fine with this. That's a lot of money for Dempster in my opinion. Way to stand tall Doug!

[Thurston Fluff]

Gonna go with the young Rotation I guess... Good luck with that cuz were not the A's!

 

No we are not. We have a lineup full of veterans aside from one young starter at short. One of the games premier players among them. The pitching is young but there are a lot of options and they all have good arms. They are not going to be world beaters but when you have the league's top offense all coming back you don't need great pitching. Good will do. I think we have the talent to be good. Whether it turns out that way is yet to be seen.

[Raw Biz]

 

They are not going to be world beaters but when you have the league's top offense all coming back you don't need great pitching. Good will do.

 

I see this a lot on here. And I always think about our stud offenses of Hardy, Hart, Braun, Prince, Weeks, etc. We made the playoffs twice with most of that group but one of those times was outstanding pitching. The other time we had a historic second-half by one man (C.C.). I really think the focus should be on getting great pitching and average to above average offense, not the other way around.

[Thurston Fluff]

In an ideal world I'd agree. We are not and this is what we have. All I'm saying is there have been teams with great offenses and sufficient pitching that have won in the past. Conversely teams with mediocre offenses and great pitching are not locks to win either. I really didn't think guys like Dempster would have changed that anyway so maybe I was already looking at it that way to start with.

[monty57]

Doug already stated if we didn't get Dempster, we are done pursuing other FA SPs... Gonna go with the young Rotation I guess... Good luck with that cuz were not the A's!

 

Done pursuing free agent starting pitchers does not mean done looking at ways to improve the starting rotation. I believe Doug will either:

 

1) Trade Hart and / or Gomez for young starting pitching

 

2) Trade a package of prospects for an MLB-proven starting pitcher

 

In the recent past, he has gone with option #2. I think there's a good chance he goes for option #1 this offseason.

 

It does seem to mean that he's not going to kick the tires on adding someone like Marcum, which I think is an idea that should at least be given a look.

[TURBO]

No way we trade Hart and Gomez...

 

They both have bobbles planned for the 2013 season.

 

[Warning Track Power]

Monty:

 

Option #2 is going to happen in my opinion. I just don't know where, why, who or how just yet but I do have a very strong feeling Melvin will make a deal to bring in someone who he feels can be a #2 type pitcher before the beginning of 2013. Phil Hughes, Jon Lester, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jeremy Hellickson...all names that come to mind.

[TURBO]

Jimenez? Please Doug, NO!

[paul253]

After years of having a terrible system and FINALLY getting back on track a little, I'd be very disappointed if they traded more prospects for a starting pitcher. We go with the young rotation this year (Rogers, Peralta, Fiers) and have more in the upper levels in the system to fall back on (Thornburg, Burgos, Nelson, Hellweg, Pena). We still need to vastly improve our hitting prospects though I like what they did last draft with Colter and Roach.

 

I think this year you just go with the young guys and see what you have. You're going to have to do that eventually anway. At worst you have a down year and make other plans next offseason. Best case is most of these guys show they are capable of being ML starters and are a HUGE boon to the franchise by providing cheap starting pitching for years to come.

[SRB]

I could see Melvin going for a high-risk guy on a one year deal. Erik Bedard maybe?

[jerichoholicninja]

I could see Melvin going for a high-risk guy on a one year deal. Erik Bedard maybe?

 

Bedard would not be high risk. He was released last August and no one signed him. He could easily be had on a minor league deal. No risk at all.