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UPDATE 11:46 AM EDT - Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that the Cubs are now planning to hold onto Dempster fro the season, in hopes of receiving draft pick compensation, unless the offers they re receiving improve:
As of now, Cubs' plan is to keep Dempster and make qualifying offer to get a draft pick -- unless offers improve. Not close to LAD deal yet.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 25, 2012
About whether CHC could be at risk Dempster would accept '13 qualifying offer: They could always make it clear they're putting him in 'pen.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 25, 2012
UPDATE 9:47 AM EDT - Braves general manager Frank Wren has said deal with the Cubs involving Dempster is “highly unlikely,” adding the has “moved on,” reports Sandra Golden of csssportsnite:
Frank Wren said deal with Dempster "highly unlikely". Braves had paramaters that expired yesterday.
— Sandra Golden (@sportsandra) July 25, 2012
Great Stuff from Frank Wren on Dempster "not going to paint ourselves in a corner... we have moved on" #braves
— Sandra Golden (@sportsandra) July 25, 2012
7:30 AM EDT - The Chicago Cubs re-opened trade talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers regarding a Ryan Dempster deal yesterday and it sounds like discussions are currently going well. A potential trade that would send Dempster to his preferred destination of Los Angeles remains "realistic," according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
Trade between #Dodgers and #Cubs for Ryan Dempster remains "realistic," in the words of one person with knowledge of talks.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 25, 2012
Even after pulling off a blockbuster trade to acquire Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins, the Dodgers remain interested in acquiring Dempster.
Source: #Dodgers still working to acquire Ryan Dempster; they can end up with Dempster AND Hanley Ramirez. Stunning night in #MLB.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 25, 2012
It remains to be seen if they will be as aggressive as before, but the team still has all their bargaining chips the Cubs front office is interested in. That includes the team's No. 2 prospect Allen Webster, a 22-year-old starter, whom the Cubs are looking to acquire as the main piece in a deal.
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Will Dempster be in a Dodgers' uniform for his start today?
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