Dempster prepares for trade
D’backs’ Upton among others in demand
CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs ace Ryan Dempster sat in front of the TV cameras Sunday morning at Wrigley Field, giving his finest Harry Caray impersonation, knowing that he might be wearing a different uniform the next time he provides a command performance.
Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton was getting his hair cut outside of the visiting clubhouse at Wrigley, knowing the next time he appears at a news conference, it might be to announce he has been traded.
And general managers Kevin Towers of the Diamondbacks and Theo Epstein of the Cubs, who worked together while with the San Diego Padres, spent more time checking their cellphones Sunday than reminiscing about old times, with teams inundating them with calls before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
“I’m getting more calls than I ever have at the deadline,” Towers told USA TODAY Sports. “I don’t know if it’s because of Upton’s name being out there or what. There are just so many people in the buy mode. I’ve had only one team telling me, ‘Here’s a list of guys you can have.’ Everyone else is trying to improve their club.
“The only difference is that you’re hearing a lot more talk of trading a big-league player for other bigleague players. You’re hearing less about prospects. Teams are still less apt about trading those guys.”
Epstein and Towers realize this is a critical time for their franchises. Epstein wants to rebuild the Cubs, and to that end he is looking to trade Dempster and fellow pitcher Matt Garza, along with position players Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, Bryan LaHair and Reed Johnson.
Towers, trying to decipher whether the Diamondbacks (42-46) can be contenders after being swept by the Cubs, has informed teams that everyone is available, including Upton, shortstop Stephen Drew and center fielder Chris Young.
“I don’t know whether we’ll trade Justin or not,” Towers said. “We’ll have to see if the right deal presents itself. We’re in the information- gathering business. The information we get now may be useful this winter. We’ll find out what teams have interest in him.”
There’s certainly a greater urgency for the Cubs. Dempster, a free agent after this season, has never been more valuable. He leads the majors with a 1.86 ERA and has a 33-inning scoreless streak going. Furthermore, Dempster is the fifth pitcher in the last 100 years to win five consecutive starts in the same season without allowing a run, according to Elias Sports Bureau. And Garza, who pitched seven scoreless innings Sunday, yielding five hits with seven strikeouts, is a free agent after the 2013 season.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but you can’t let it bother you, because I can’t really control it,” Dempster said. “Well, I guess in the end I can (with no-trade rights). But as long as I’m here, I’m going to try to do my best job for this organization. They haven’t really told me much, but I don’t need to know until they come up with a deal they like. I understand it’s a business.”
Even if Dempster is traded, he told USA TODAY Sports he’d be more than willing to return to the Cubs as a free agent this winter.
Upton, though, would likely be gone for good. He has 3½ years left on his six-year, $51.25 million contract. Towers, who had extensive talks with the Boston Red Sox two years ago about Upton when Epstein was Boston’s general manager, told Upton he would let him know if he gets close to a trade.
Who knows? Towers might even give Upton his choice.
“I did it with Ed Sprague,” Towers said of his Padres third baseman in 2000. “I had two teams make similar offers. I gave him his choice to go to the Red Sox or Yankees. I asked him where would he be more comfortable. He chose the Red Sox. The Yankees won it all that year.
“I’m not saying I’ll do it again, but I told Justin that if we’re at the 1-yard line, I’ll tell you the teams that are interested.”