Cubs re-sign RHP Dempster

Nov 19, 2008 - 12:59 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs made their first notable offseason move Tuesday, re-signing free agent pitcher Ryan Dempster to a four-year contract.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but multiple media outlets have reported that the righthander will receive $52 million.

Dempster, who reportedly was being pursued by Atlanta and Toronto as well, went 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA last season after becoming a full-time starter for the first time since 2002.

"I just thought this is where I wanted to be," Dempster said. "Was more money out in the open market? I'm sure there probably was. Who knows, maybe there were five-year (offers), you never know. That's a question that I will never be able to answer. Truthfully, I don't really even care to know. I'm happy with what I have, more money than I can ever dream of getting."

The 31-year-old had served as the Cubs' closer the previous three campaigns, saving 85 games over that span.

Now the second-highest paid hurler on the team, Dempster rejoins a rotation that features Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and Ted Lilly.

"It was imperative that we kept (Dempster) in house," Chicago general manager Jim Hendry said. "He made no secret that he really wanted to be here. There was no doubt in any of our minds that Ryan would have exceeded this deal on the streets three or four weeks from now given the market with starting pitching."

Dempster pitched at least six innings in 25 of his 33 starts last season, and the Cubs went 22-11 in his starts en route to claiming their second straight National League Central Division title.

"I've become attached not just to the guys on the team but also to the city of Chicago," said Dempster, who lives near the ballpark in Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood. "Ultimately, it comes down to what our chances are to win a world championship. Getting to the postseason the last two years, I thought this is where I wanted to be."

A 2008 All-Star, Dempster began last season 10-0 at Wrigley Field, becoming the first Cubs pitcher to do so since Rick Reuschel in 1977.

Dempster finished the campaign 14-3 at the Friendly Confines, the most victories by a pitcher at Wrigley Field since Ferguson Jenkins won a franchise-record 15 games in 1967.

"We've got unfinished business," Dempster said. "I want to go back out there and have a better year than I had this past season."

Dempster is 76-81 with 87 saves and a 4.55 ERA over 11 major league seasons with Florida, Cincinnati and the Cubs.

"He's still got five or six good years in him, no doubt in our mind," Hendry said. "You win a lot of baseball games with this guy on your ballclub. He's had a tremendous influence on a lot of guys in that clubhouse."