Monday, it appeared Chicago Cubs righthander Ryan Dempster was on his way to becoming a member of the Atlanta Braves.
Ryan Dempster ‘Considering Options’, Could Take Another Week
But Dempster, who has 10-and-5 rights, had not signed off on the deal, and Tuesday, he was in the Cubs’ clubhouse in Pittsburgh as the team prepares to play the Pirates, saying he could take up to a week to decide:
"I want to look everything over before I make a decision, and I’ve got time to do that," Dempster said Tuesday. "There’s a week before the Trade Deadline."
Dempster, 35, who leads the Major Leagues with a 2.11 ERA, is scheduled to start Wednesday for the Cubs against the Pirates, and expects to make that start.
As a player with 10 and 5 rights, Dempster has veto power over any deal. He wouldn’t specify which teams he was considering.
"I’m just trying to look over everything and make the best decision for me and for my family and what I need to do," he said.
The Cubs appear to have lost quite a bit of leverage due to the snafus; as noted by Joe Sheehan:
Dempster starting tomorrow for the Cubs knocks about 10% of his remaining value off for whoever trades for him.
— Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) July 24, 2012
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