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Dempster Deal Poorly Sets Free Agent Market

The Cubs will re-sign Ryan Dempster to a four-year, $52 million contract today.

The deal sets the free agent pitcher’s market, as Dempster gets a deal akin to Carlos Silva’s four-year, $48M contract last season. It tells most of us that baseball won’t quite suffer from the same financial hardship that is plaguing the nation; closer to home, it might shut the door on prized free agent names for the Phillies.

Now that Dempster is set, AJ Burnett — sought by the Yankees — should get at least $55 million over four years, and probably more. Derek Lowe will drop in for $12 million per year. Even Brad Penny, Braden Looper and other third-tier guys should get close to $10 million in 2009.

Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phillies were looking for pitching, and though they could strike a deal for a prized free-agent starter, it’s looking very bleak. Consider Jamie Moyer should get about $7 million in 2009, and you’re not looking at a top-flight name. Moreover, consider a hitter like Milton Bradley, who may get that four year deal he seeks. If Dempster can get it, why not him?

Meanwhile, the Phils “set parameters” for a Pat Burrell contract. Look for Burrell to seek a better deal, and maybe get it now.

The way the market has opened, the Phils spending spree of 2008 may resemble the 2007 experience: a couple names late in December and a low-risk, high-reward trade.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.