Ryan Dempster will not pitch in 2014

[NativeBostonian]

It's ridiculous that Dempster's move away from the game has become an "issue" here on talksox.

 

No one here knows all of the details surrounding his life away from baseball. Judging him for this move is not appropriate.

 

I'm glad he left the team and not because it will free up needed money under the cap.

 

I always liked him last season because he was an intelligent, articulate, and humorous man and from what I have heard a great teammate. For these reasons alone, I will miss him.

 

However! While he was an effective "innings eater" ( something that we should all see great value in ) it was usually torture to watch him pitch. He either gave the Sox 4 1'3 decent innings or got shelled. Sort of like Wakefield at the end of his career.

 

On paper the Sox APPEAR to have depth at starting pitching. Enough to cover this "loss", anyway.

 

I like the fact that Dempster leaving may allow Workman or another minor league talent a chance when needed. It is almost assured that the Sox will need at least one of those guys this season. Buch is a question mark. Peavey no longer has his best stuff, and Felix is not exactly the King at this point.

 

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

Relax Fred, the Sox are not likely to sign Drew even with this development.

 

Leave it up to the old fart to set everyone straight.

[Emmz]

Yes, he's a dumbass, mediocre pitcher who happened to make $90 million in his career. The $90 million came from us baseball fans one way or the other...the joke's on us, really.

 

Like I said, I'd find it tough to believe there are many good reasons to pass up on making $13M in about half of a calendar year, when most people can't even make that kind of money in 30 years. Especially when you consider he's coming off a terrible season, and with his age, is unlikely to ever make this kind of money in FA ever again. If there is a good reason for it, I can guarantee it's pretty serious, whether it's mental or physical.

[a700hitter]

That could also be very embarrassing to him.

 

I'm not really jumping to conclusions - I'm suggesting that we're in no position to judge exactly what is motivating him in this decision.

Bells, you are right. I have acknowledged that there are circumstances where this would make sense. Money can't buy you time if you or a loved one is dying. If we don't know enough to call it a dumb decision, we don't know enough to conclude that it isn't stupid. People do make dumb financial decisions every day. Do we know enough to conclude that this isn't foolishness? I don't think so. If it is foolishness, I can't get to the point of calling it classy. Like you said, we don't know enough to come to a conclusion either way.

[wyo-sox]

If Dempster had come to this conclusion earlier would we have signed a high profile free agent? Could Ells have been kept out of NY?

[NativeBostonian]

If Dempster had come to this conclusion earlier would we have signed a high profile free agent? Could Ells have been kept out of NY?

 

That's a good question. If they had that kind of money back in the beginning of the offseason, they vary well could have used that to get Ells back.

[Bellhorn04]

If Dempster had come to this conclusion earlier would we have signed a high profile free agent? Could Ells have been kept out of NY?

 

I don't think so. Ellsbury's contract was 155 million, Dempster gave them back 13 million. Still 142 million to go.

[mvp 78]

If Dempster had come to this conclusion earlier would we have signed a high profile free agent? Could Ells have been kept out of NY?

 

No, Ells was a goner because the Sox have a cheaper replacement available.

[seabeachfred]

Dempster thinks there's more value this year in staying home with his family than playing ball. My hat is off to him. Glad he has his priorities in order. Two years ago, I took 3 months unpaid parental leave to spend time with my son. I don't regret that decision one bit.

 

This is no joke mvp. A boatload of kudos to you for doing that and may I commend you on that. You're showing me a lot of class and it is making me a little uncomfortable.:cool:

[seabeachfred]

It's ridiculous that Dempster's move away from the game has become an "issue" here on talksox.

 

No one here knows all of the details surrounding his life away from baseball. Judging him for this move is not appropriate.

 

I'm glad he left the team and not because it will free up needed money under the cap.

 

I always liked him last season because he was an intelligent, articulate, and humorous man and from what I have heard a great teammate. For these reasons alone, I will miss him.

 

However! While he was an effective "innings eater" ( something that we should all see great value in ) it was usually torture to watch him pitch. He either gave the Sox 4 1'3 decent innings or got shelled. Sort of like Wakefield at the end of his career.

 

On paper the Sox APPEAR to have depth at starting pitching. Enough to cover this "loss", anyway.

 

I like the fact that Dempster leaving may allow Workman or another minor league talent a chance when needed. It is almost assured that the Sox will need at least one of those guys this season. Buch is a question mark. Peavey no longer has his best stuff, and Felix is not exactly the King at this point.

 

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

Relax Fred, the Sox are not likely to sign Drew even with this development.

 

Can I take that one to the bank Spud? Or to the bloodbank?

[SoxSport]

If Dempster had come to this conclusion earlier would we have signed a high profile free agent? Could Ells have been kept out of NY?

 

Nobody except the Yankees would pay Ellsbury that kind of money. They had to go that high to get him.

 

The mystery is why they didn't want to overpay for Cano. Perhaps they were intent on pulling another Damon on the Red Sox. If so, the Red Sox didn't blink.

My guess is they changed their tune on spending at some point after losing Cano and signing Ells. They went whole hog.

[SoxSport]

I had a guy from the Globe tweet me that Dempster was really a good starter for them last year.

 

Dempster is getting a lot of love at the Globe right now--for the wrong reasons.

[redsoxrules]

If Dempster had come to this conclusion earlier would we have signed a high profile free agent? Could Ells have been kept out of NY?

 

f*** no. That contract is insane.

[mvp 78]

I had a guy from the Globe tweet me that Dempster was really a good starter for them last year.

 

Dempster is getting a lot of love at the Globe right now--for the wrong reasons.

 

The wrong reasons: he's a great guy and beloved teammate.

[seabeachfred]

Say whatever you guys might want to say about Dempster, fact is that mvp has it right.......he was liked and respected by his teammates and, what's more, he was the consummate team player. More speed and power to him.

[SoxSport]

Say whatever you guys might want to say about Dempster, fact is that mvp has it right.......he was liked and respected by his teammates and, what's more, he was the consummate team player. More speed and power to him.

 

Those are the right reasons. A $13M pitcher for them he was not.

[Thunder]

Say whatever you guys might want to say about Dempster, fact is that mvp has it right.......he was liked and respected by his teammates and, what's more, he was the consummate team player. More speed and power to him.

 

Definitely. The effect that his absence will have on team/clubhouse morale will be greater than the effect of the absence of his performance on the field.

[Palodios]

The intangibles are interesting here.

 

Coming into 2013, the rotation was still filled with malcontents. Buchholz -- laptops/golfgate/beergate. Lackey -- beergate/doublefisting in a cast/cancer divorcer. Doubront -- fat. Aceves -- Aceves. Lester has seemed like he was not ready to fill that role of leader, but after his playoff performance last year, he must have earned surefire respect from all of baseball. Lester's press conferences he seemed to have added years of maturity in mere months.

 

Dempster filled the role of a strong veteran presence -- ever since it was vacated by Wakefield in 2011. Peavy certainly helped as well, but I would not be surprised if Dempster helped stabilize a messy group.

speculation>

[seabeachfred]

The intangibles are interesting here.

 

Coming into 2013, the rotation was still filled with malcontents. Buchholz -- laptops/golfgate/beergate. Lackey -- beergate/doublefisting in a cast/cancer divorcer. Doubront -- fat. Aceves -- Aceves. Lester has seemed like he was not ready to fill that role of leader, but after his playoff performance last year, he must have earned surefire respect from all of baseball. Lester's press conferences he seemed to have added years of maturity in mere months.

 

Dempster filled the role of a strong veteran presence -- ever since it was vacated by Wakefield in 2011. Peavy certainly helped as well, but I would not be surprised if Dempster helped stabilize a messy group.

speculation>

 

Boy that was some group we assembled last season. You couldn't have picked a better bunch of guys to unite into a team if you had done it by computer. I just hope I'm not pining for these guys down the road in a few years but can instead celebrate another WS Title or two in the next half decade. That would really mean we are the team that is the standard others judge by.

[reYoukilis]

But in the end is better for the Sox and think that was a part of his decision.

[Bellhorn04]

The intangibles are interesting here.

 

Coming into 2013, the rotation was still filled with malcontents. Buchholz -- laptops/golfgate/beergate. Lackey -- beergate/doublefisting in a cast/cancer divorcer. Doubront -- fat. Aceves -- Aceves. Lester has seemed like he was not ready to fill that role of leader, but after his playoff performance last year, he must have earned surefire respect from all of baseball. Lester's press conferences he seemed to have added years of maturity in mere months.

 

Dempster filled the role of a strong veteran presence -- ever since it was vacated by Wakefield in 2011. Peavy certainly helped as well, but I would not be surprised if Dempster helped stabilize a messy group.

speculation>

 

Dempster helped with that, no doubt. But I have to think Farrell and Nieves deserve a lot of the credit too, as well as the rededicated Lackey.

 

It was a confluence (right YOTN?)

[jacksonianmarch]

Having the extra money works for the sox assuming good health in the rotation. Dempster offered you a rubber armed veteran presence who can pitch out of the pen and rotation. That is worth something, although nowhere near $13 mil. Regardless, with him out, you probably have to deal with pulling Workman out of the pen should there be an injury to the rotation. And let's be honest, there will be. The odds that Buchholz makes it through the whole year are next to none. And Workman is far more effective out of the pen.

[seabeachfred]

Having the extra money works for the sox assuming good health in the rotation. Dempster offered you a rubber armed veteran presence who can pitch out of the pen and rotation. That is worth something, although nowhere near $13 mil. Regardless, with him out, you probably have to deal with pulling Workman out of the pen should there be an injury to the rotation. And let's be honest, there will be. The odds that Buchholz makes it through the whole year are next to none. And Workman is far more effective out of the pen.

 

Try telling that to Cherington and Farrell who still seem to have their love arrows out for one Stephen Money Grubbing Drew!!!!!!!!!

[redsoxrules]

LOL!

If that was the case they would have signed Drew by now.

[wyo-sox]

Money grubbing?

[seabeachfred]

LOL!

If that was the case they would have signed Drew by now.

 

Perhaps RR!!!! Still to say they are still interested in him up to a point sends me the chills. I know I will come in for it if Middlebrooks craters this season but it's a chance I'm willing to take. The guy is a good athlete, improving third baseman, not slow at all and has very good home run power. I just think we could be set on the left side of our infield for years if the front office would simply make it official and tell Drew and Boras to take their snake oil somewhere else.

 

BTW, today on Hardball Talk there was a blurb about Boras and Drew still asking for $14 million a year and who knows how many years they want along with it. The Mets told them to take it elsewhere. Not here though. Please!!!!!!!!

[Palodios]

BTW, today on Hardball Talk there was a blurb about Boras and Drew still asking for $14 million a year and who knows how many years they want along with it. The Mets told them to take it elsewhere. Not here though. Please!!!!!!!!

 

Rest assured Fred, there is no chance that happens.

Free agents seem to be getting desperate. Ubaldo and Garza were asking 80-100 and ended up with 40-50. Spring Training is starting, and teams don't seem to need Drew.

 

Ben has all the leverage. They're probably offering him somewhere in the ballpark of 1/8 or 2/15, and at some point he'll need to accept something.

[reYoukilis]

What Ive read, the players want him back but Cher and Farr are ready to move on. I think the pitchers want him because hes a decent fielder. Thats why I like him.

[reYoukilis]

Having the extra money works for the sox assuming good health in the rotation. Dempster offered you a rubber armed veteran presence who can pitch out of the pen and rotation. That is worth something, although nowhere near $13 mil. Regardless, with him out, you probably have to deal with pulling Workman out of the pen should there be an injury to the rotation. And let's be honest, there will be. The odds that Buchholz makes it through the whole year are next to none. And Workman is far more effective out of the pen.

I agree and think another starter shouldnt be ruled out.

[seabeachfred]

What Ive read, the players want him back but Cher and Farr are ready to move on. I think the pitchers want him because hes a decent fielder. Thats why I like him.

 

Spring Training is just getting underway and already we're seeing the makings of a circus out there with will we sign Drew or will we not sign Drew, Farrell wants him, Farrell is ready to move on. There should be no multi-year contract for this guy---one year (reluctantly) as a utility infielder. Make him an offer of one year at $6 million take it or leave it. If he says no, END THE CHARADE AND CIRCUS RIGHT THEN AND THERE!!!!!!! If he's holding out for big money let him wait until June when teams get desperate and don't lose a draft choice to sign him.

[a700hitter]

I think that ownership is hoping that another team signs him. It seems like his teammates like him and want him back. The Red Sox have publicly said that they would like to have him back, but I have not read about any offer by the Sox other than the QO. In the beginning they said they were waiting to see if they would match his other offers. It seems that he has no reasonable offers on the table. Camps are open. If they truly wanted him they would make him an offer. I think they will be relieved if he signs elsewhere. It will be face-saving to the players and fans if he leaves for a nice contract. If the FO was counting on the Mets being that team, they are sadly mistaken. They spent their budget. In the end Drew's price may come so low that the Yanks will jump in and they will have the starting SS and CFer from our championship team. That would be bizarre.