Dempster moved from Cubs bullpen to the rotation
November 6, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. — One of the most debated issues concerning the Cubs last season — keeping Ryan Dempster as the closer — finally has been resolved.
General manager Jim Hendry confirmed Tuesday that manager Lou Piniella gave Dempster the green light to move from the back of the bullpen to the rotation in time for spring training.
‘‘Lou did speak to Ryan about getting himself ready to pitch in the rotation,’’ Hendry said during Day 2 of the general managers meetings.
If Dempster is on the road to starting, who becomes the Cubs’ closer?
‘‘It has yet to be determined,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘That will be up to Lou in spring training.’’
Young right-hander Carlos Marmol and veteran right-hander Bob Howry would be the top two candidates. And if free-agent right-hander Kerry Wood re-signs with the Cubs, he also would be a strong candidate.
‘‘If we do re-sign Kerry, he would be in the mix,’’ Hendry said. ‘‘I think Kerry can pitch late in the game. He certainly has the character to close. We have a lot of possibilities.’’
Wood, 30, came off the disabled list Aug. 3 and appeared in 22 games as a reliever, going 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA. The right-hander who spent most of his career as a starter never has earned a major-league save.
Dempster, who hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2003, has made it clear his desire would be to return to starting. The right-hander went 2-7 with a 4.73 ERA and 28 saves in 31 chances last season. At midseason, Piniella decided to move Dempster into the rotation, then quickly changed his mind.
Asked by the Sun-Times last month if he would be interested in starting, Dempster didn’t conceal his desire.
‘‘Absolutely, I’d love to,’’ Dempster said. ‘‘I enjoy closing. I think I did a good job of closing. I think I did a poor job of pitching sometimes when it wasn’t a save situation.
‘‘I’d love to [start]. I love doing it. I think I could do a good job of it.’’
Adding Dempster to the rotation would squeeze out young left-hander Sean Marshall or land veteran right-hander Jason Marquis on the trading block.
NOTE: Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee, who committed only seven errors in 1,259 total chances in 147 games (146 starts) won his third Gold Glove. Lee also won a Gold Glove in 2005 with the Cubs and 2003 with the Florida Marlins, a year they won the World Series.
