Braves close to Ryan Dempster deal

[JonLP24]

The Atlanta Braves are close to acquiring pitcher Ryan Dempster in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, sources told ESPN.com.

The deal, which could be completed as early as Monday afternoon, would send Atlanta right-hander Randall Delgado to Chicago in exchange for Dempster, a source told ESPN.com MLB Insider Keith Law.

Dempster, 35, is in the final year of his contract with the Cubs and widely is considered one of the top starting pitchers available in the trade market. The right-hander leads the majors with a 2.11 ERA and recently reeled off a streak of 33 consecutive scoreless innings.

A 15-year veteran, Dempster is 5-4 in 15 starts this season, his ninth with the Cubs. Dempster's scoreless-innings streak was snapped in the opening frame of Friday's loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8192150/sources-atlanta-braves-close-deal-chicago-cubs-ryan-dempster

[TZ]

1. Dempster tweeted there is no trade

He's also still in the Cubs clubhouse and putting on his uniform. We shall see. Someone tweeted the trade has been "vacated". Whatever that means

[JonLP24]

2. 12m ago

Cubs trade Ryan Dempster to Braves, pending approval

The Atlanta Braves, who once made the postseason an annual staple, reached an agreement to acquire Chicago Cubs ace Ryan Dempster on Monday, in their bid to win a postseason round for the first time since 2001.

The acquisition was confirmed by a Braves' front-office executive with knowledge of the deal. The official spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the trade has yet to be announced. Dempster, who has 10-and-five rights, still has to officially approve the deal.

Dempster showed up at Wrigley and declined to discuss the rumors. He wrote via his foundation's Twitter account:

"There is no trade don't know where this info came from?"

A second tweet about 20 minutes later read:

"My account has not been hacked #RD46"

<snip>

Dempster is in the final year of a four-year, $60 million deal that pays him $14 million this year. It's unknown whether the Braves will seek to sign him to an extension before he becomes eligible for free agency.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2012/07/cubs-trade-ryan-dempster-to-atlanta-braves/1#.UA2yIlYitHE

[bluedigger]

3. Noooooo!

We'll give them Beckett and Lester for a box of used jock straps.

Hell, we'll throw in Lackey for a used piece of string, if they need a bench filler!

How could they turn a deal like that down?

[joeybee12]

4. You forgot Dice-K!!!

Series-ly, the Sox would be better without all 4!!!!

[bluedigger]

5. D'oh!

That wasn't a mistake.

[TZ]

6. Dempster wants to go to the Dodgers

But the Braves are offering more.

[JonLP24]

7. As I'm sure you probably read

He can't be traded anywhere unless he agrees to it. From what I read Braves would likely only get a rental in the deal since he doesn't seem to want to go there.