Dempster turned down a two-year, $25MM deal from the Red Sox, reports Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston (Twitter link).  This was slightly less than the Royals' recent two-year, $26MM offer that was also rejected, as Dempster is looking for a three-year contract.

The Sox could do worse than Dempster.

 

The encouraging new here is it does mean Uehara was not going to displace a bullpen pitcher (Morales? Tazawa?) into the rotation, and the Sox are actively seeking putchers.

 

Not that I think Tazawa and/or Morales are bad options, but I do not like the idea of having so little depth in the rotation, especially at the expense of the bullpen...

I hope we don't make a counter-offer.

Thankfully, Ben ran out of 3 year $39mill contracts...

In response to notin's comment:

for now?

c'mon LOSHE!

In response to mef429's comment:

that would be good..i'm not sure but was he asking 4/60?

 

In response to mef429's comment:

 

Actually, I'd rather have Dempster...

In response to notin's comment:

really? just asking but why? i like dempster but not at 3 years.

I DIDN'T know we were in the market for yet another 4 or 5 starter.

Another top free agent, Kyle Lohse, is represented by Scott Boras and is expected to be seeking more than three years, though if a three-year deal is sufficient to get him signed, the Red Sox would be expected to jump in

I'd take this money...

   SV $39M/3

   RD $25M/2 (reported)

   JG $10M/2

   DR $6.2M/2

Total: $80M over the next 2-3 years for 4 players. ($33.5M, $33.5M, $13M)

 

and shift(ed)  it here... (assuming they agreed to play here for slightly more $$$)

Angel Pagan $42M/4

B McCarthy   $23M/3

D Haren $14M/1 (I think we could do better here)

Total: $79M over 1-4 years for 3 players ($32M, $18M, $18M, $10.5M)

 

In response to moonslav59's comment:

i would keep what we got. and wait to see what SP we get...we will get one.

In response to raider3524's comment:

agree'd.

with your plan moon we would still need a 1st baseman and corner OF'er (at least 1 of them with lots of power at that) and would not have the depth we do now.

In response to mef429's comment:

No, I did not take away the Naps signing.

All I did was sub Haren, Pagan and McCarthy for SV, DR, JG, and the money offered to Dempster.

We could put Pagan in RF or trade Ellsbury and use his $8M or so to find a RF'er.

The huge plus is in our staff. I'll trade that for "depth" anyday.

In response to moonslav59's comment:

I can't say I disagree with most of the ideas. But David Ross to me is one of the 3 best signings in all of free agency and I was desperate to find some defense back there. Add the attitude and righty pull power and I highly recommend you find your 6 million in savings elswhere, although I understand the desire for the 79-80 thingy.

 

Also, we are still short a bat as we speak. And you have replaced an OF for pitching depth. Not a huge point, but we would need two more bats IMO. We probably still have money to burn though.

I probably would be just as happy with your moves as the Red Sox. As they and I say, pitching wins. But I like the Sox moves too.

 

 

In response to moonslav59's comment:

my mistake moon, that is a pretty acceptable roster too.. but i'll wait until BC adds a pitcher before i deem which one is better.

not a pagan fan myself

gotta say real glad dempester turned it down, did the sox fo not watch how he pitched on texas? he got destroyed in the AL in a weaker division than the AL east. Seriously enough with the short term deals to washed up players, get some good young players like j upton, stanton etc and if we are going to sign anyone it better be hamilton. 

In response to redsoxpride34's comment:

By cumulative record and record in head-to-head competition, the American League West was superior to the American League East in 2012 (and in more than half of the preceding 12 seasons).  

After Ryan Dempster's trade to Texas, the Rangers' AL West opponents compiled a record of 96-77 (.555), not counting the Rangers' own record of 34-26 (.567) over the same period, while AL East teams compiled a record of 147-145 (.503).

In response to notin's comment:

I am not that excited about either. But if Lohse took more years, more money and the draft choice, I definately would prefer Dempster. I think  they are about the same guy really. Not much difference.

 

Dempster isn't as bad an idea as some think. Just doesn't have any upside or any future long term. But has been a solid number 2 for many years now.

 

I think if the Red Sox really did offer 2-25, people might want to start getting used to the idea of Ryan Dempster. Cause I have a hard time seeing him being offered much more then that.

 

 

Thank you, can we please pickup a younger player. Dempster is 35, come on Ben, I thought we wanted to get younger. The guy is a converted reliever and in the National League with a lousy 7 8, and 9 hitter.

RD--2 years @ $26 with some added qualifiers that if he hits 200 innings for two years he gets the third year @ whatever $10-13.   Or if he gets 30 starts for the two years.

I like the idea of having a guy take the ball every 5 or 6 days that really knows how to pitch.

In response to redsoxpride34's comment:

 

SSS, but in the last 5 seasons, he has an ERA against the AL East of 3.08.

In response to BMav's comment:

I'm not upset by the Ross signing, but just raised this alternative scenario.

I'm sure we could afford my scenario with D Ross added, and even someone else as well.

my mistake moon, that is a pretty acceptable roster too.. but i'll wait until BC adds a pitcher before i deem which one is better.

not a pagan fan myself

I said on another thread that I will not judge Ben harshly until I see what pitcher(s) he gets, but I have to say, the B Mac deal looked pretty sweet, and may be hard to top dollar for dollar.