Braves reach agreement to acquire Dempster

The Braves reached an agreement to acquire Ryan Dempster from the Cubs.  But the trade has not been officially completed.

Because he has played in the Majors for at least 10 years and been with the same team for at least five years, Dempster has the right to veto any trade.  After arriving at PNC Park on Monday afternoon, he said a trade had not been completed.

Dempster has the potential to serve as the stabilizing asset the Braves have been seeking to add to their inconsistent starting rotation.  The 35-year-old right-hander has posted a 2.15 ERA in 15 starts this year and a 3.63 ERA in the 147 starts he has made since the start of the 2008 season.

Once Jair Jurrjens struggled again during Sunday’s loss to the Nationals, it became more apparent the Braves would aggressively pursue the acquisition of a starting pitcher.  Their rotation has posted the third-worst ERA (4.34) in the National League this year.  <p>

Dempster will be a free agent at the conclusion of this season and he is owed approximately $5 million for the remainder of this season.  It is not known whether the Braves will be responsible for the entire portion of this figure.

When the Braves began evaluating ways to improve their starting rotation, Dempster and Zack Greinke sat at the top of their wish list. But as the past few days passed with the Brewers have providing clear indication that they are willing to move Greinke, the focus fell on Dempster.

To get Greinke, the Braves would have had to likely part with top pitching prospect Julio Teheran and at least one other Top 15 prospect.  Now they will likely simply pursue him on the free agent market this winter.