Latest On Ryan Dempster

With his 10-and-5 rights, Chicago Cubs' starter Ryan Dempster rebuffed a trade that would have sent him to the Atlanta Braves because he wants to be dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers. But do the Dodgers want him as badly as the right-hander? According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Dodgers are unwilling to send their No. 2 prospect, Allen Webster, to the Cubs in exchange for Dempster.

According to people briefed on the talks, the Dodgers have thus far offered a couple of lesser prospects, guys who may project as relievers. The Dodgers, or so it seems anyway, may be more interested in a different Cubs pitcher, Matt Garza. While they like Dempster enough to make an offer, they also like Garza very much, perhaps even more.

While the Dodgers could be bluffing here, they do have just about all the leverage in trade talks with the Cubs. The 35-year-old Dempster could (and would) block any trade that doesn't send him to Los Angeles, limiting talks from other teams. But neither club is obligated to meet Dempster's request, making this an interesting and tricky situation for all those involved.