Ryan Dempster Back On The Cubs' Bandwagon?

Aerosmith once sang about "the same old story, same old song and dance." Now, the Chicago Cubs are paying for it.

In a deal that could be announced as early as Tuesday afternoon, the Cubs have apparently agreed to terms with surprise starter Ryan Dempster on a four year contract worth $52 million.

The 31-year-old pitcher, who previously closed for the Cubs, had waited until he could test the free agent market before deciding Chicago was his kind of town. The Cubs now have an intact front four starting pitchers—Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and Ted Lilly—that finished 2008 to begin 2009.

My initial reaction is "Wow, $13 million a season for a guy who, after going 11 games over .500 in 2008, raised his career record to five games under breaking even?"

But after thinking about it, having some coffee, and digesting the idea of Dempster pitching on the North Side until he's 35 years old, my reaction changes a little.

"Wow, $13 million a season for a guy that most of Chicago wanted on the first train out of town when he was closing? $13 million for a guy that has one good season on his resume? $13 million for a guy has better timing with a good joke than a breaking ball in October? $13 million for...Ryan Dempster?"

There have been dozens of trades linked to the Cubs already this winter; there always are in November. The Cubs are a poor man's Yankees and Red Sox—media darlings with an old stadium and enormous fan base that spend a lot of money. The difference? Boston and New York have won rings in my grandfather's life time.

So now, the man who was handed the ball in Game One of the historic NLDS series against the overmatched Los Angeles Dodgers, the surprise 17-game winner from Canada with the fiery red goatee and smile to match, will be throwing for the Cubs for the next four years.

At a price tag of $13 million each.

I can't help but wonder if this signals the official end of the Jake Peavy talks on the North Side. I also wonder if Jason Marquis is still "good enough" to be the Cubs' fifth starter. With Dempster back in the fold, there isn't much space left on the bullpen bench for any more major league pitching. And, last time I checked, the people the Cubs had on the bump didn't produce in October.

Apparently Cubs' General Manager Jim Hendry doesn't own a CHANGE t-shirt like half of Chicago.

What's next for the Cubs? Rafael Furcal? A trade? Nothing at all? Hopefully something that produces a winner. And I'm not sure keeping Ryan Dempster does that on the North side of Chicago.