Ryan Dempster: Chicago Cubs Need to Deal Star Pitcher Immediately

Ryan Dempster has done all that he can this season to increase his worth to the Chicago Cubs and the rest of the teams in Major League Baseball. For that reason, the Cubs need to deal him as soon as humanly possible. 

According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago, there are at least 10 teams that are looking at Dempster to upgrade their pitching staff. 

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With a little more than two weeks until baseball's trade deadline, 10 teams have shown legitimate interest in acquiring Dempster's services for the remainder of the season, according to industry sources. Those clubs include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Atlanta Braves.

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While I am not saying the Cubs should take the first deal, nor am I saying that they should settle, but they are risking a lot by keeping Dempster on their roster the closer we get to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. 

At 35 years old, Dempster is no longer in the prime of his career. You would never know that to look at his numbers, as he currently has a 1.86 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and has allowed just six home runs in 92 innings pitched. 

However, and this is the key, Dempster did miss time earlier this season with a lat injury. He has been incredibly durable over the last four years, but pitchers are so volatile that the slightest twinge can change everything. 

Starting pitching is always going to be a valuable commodity on the trade market. Dempster might be the best one available this year. He is scheduled to start on Friday night in St. Louis, though that same ESPN report says the Cubs are making contingency plans just in case a deal is made. 

General manager Jed Hoyer will do his due diligence to make sure that he gets the best deal for the Cubs, but with the clock ticking, the team is risking an injury that will force them to keep him the rest of the season. 

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