The pitching market is growing increasingly thin this offseason.  Dan Haren has signed, Brandon McCarthy has signed, Zack Greinke has signed, James Shields has been traded.  The list goes on.  That leaves older players like Ryan Dempster.  He was a hot commodity at the July 31st trade deadline last season and ended up in Texas.  He struggled after the trade, but despite his struggles, he still remained a hot free agent target.  So hot, in fact, that the Boston Red Sox have given him a two-year deal.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have reached a two-year, $26.5 million deal with Dempster.  The 35-year old righty will need to pass a physical.  Cafardo points out that this contract is not much more than the two-year, $25 million deal the Red Sox offered him last week.  Regardless of the mere $1.5 million they had to increase (pocket change), Boston landed their man.


Boston is trying to rebuild after a terrible 2012 season.  But don't expect the rebuilding process to be like most teams.  The Red Sox will not be the doormats of the American League East.  They have already build a roster that looks competitive on paper.  If Dempster can re-capture some of the form he showed with the Chicago Cubs in 2012, he can help them fight for the division crown once again.

Dempster had a fantastic first half of 2012, the best of his career actually.  He posted a 5-5 record but had a 2.25 ERA in 16 starts with the Cubs.  After he was traded to the Rangers, he fell apart.  Dempster went 7-3 (interesting what a good offense can do to your win/loss record) with a 5.09 ERA in 12 starts.

Dempster's ability to pitch in the American League is a question.  His durability is another question.  In the midst of his impressive start to the season, Dempster had to placed on the 15-day DL with tightness in his right lat muscle.  He ultimately came back and pitched fine before being traded, but his age and health are clearly going to be a concern for the Red Sox.

If Dempster can pitch anything close to how he did in Chicago in 2012, the Red Sox have something brewing.  If he can't, they may have wasted money better spent on younger talent.  Time will tell.
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