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A "quick trade" involving Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster is looking more and more likely, reports Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Speaking with rival executives on Wednesday, Wittenmyer was informed that the Cubs’ position as sellers at the deadline may prompt a team to "strike fast with a strong offer" for a player like Dempster. Fueling the trade rumor fire is the lengthy, visible conversation Dempster held on the field with team president Theo Epstein before batting practice on Wednesday.
The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers are thought to be the most likely teams to trade for Dempster, who is sporting a 2.31 ERA and a 7.7 K/9 rate in 11 starts this year.
The 35-year-old right-hander, who has said he would consider waiving his no-trade clause, has a 4.34 ERA, 7.8 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9 across his 15 big league seasons, the last nine of which have been as a member of the Cubs.