The Los Angeles Dodgers failed to land starting pitcher Ryan Dempster at the trade deadline on Tuesday, as the Chicago Cubs instead dealt the right-hander to the Texas Rangers. In the end, the Cubs' asking price was too high.
The Dodgers refused to part with Allen Webster, whom the organization considers one of its top prospects, for a two-month rental, as Dempster is pending free agent. Webster has a 3.72 ERA in 23 games for Double A Chattnooga, and according to Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti was not the only player the Cubs wanted.
"It wasn't just one premiere prospect," Colletti said. "It was one premiere prospect and other players too."
The Dodgers and Cubs had talked off and on for weeks and even though Dempster reportedly wanted to join the Dodgers the two teams were never really close on a deal, even Tuesday.
'We had been talking for such a long period of time, and there was no moving," Colletti said. "We tried up until the last couple of minutes."
Colletti added that the pending return of Ted Lilly, who could return from left shoulder inflammation as soon as August 13, was a factor in the Dodgers not being desperate to add a starting pitcher. Colletti said the Dodgers will continue to pursue upgrades via trade in August, when players have to be placed on waivers before they can de dealt.
In addition, Rubby De La Rosa, who underwent Tommy John surgery last August, pitched three scoreless innings in a rehab assignment on Sunday and could add depth to the bullpen at the very least by September.
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