ESPN's Buster Olney has filed his latest insider-only column, and in it he wrote about the immediate future of Ryan Dempster, and about teams that are looking for control pitchers.
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- The Cubs are going to deal Dempster, who has a full no-trade clause and an expiring contract, and one general manager said it's in Dempster's best interest to stay in the National League.
- Dempster's never pitched in the American League and if he gets hit hard, it could cost him in free agency.
- The Dodgers remain the most likely destination for Dempster, Olney wrote.
- Olney confirmed what CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler wrote on Tuesday: the Royals are looking for starting pitching for the immediate future, and for 2013 and 2014.
- The Red Sox are another team looking for non-rental starting pitching help, and Olney speculates on the future of Jon Lester, who "might benefit from a change of scenery." Lester is under contract in 2013 for $11.625 million, with a team option for 2014 worth $13 million.
- Other controllable pitchers who could be available: James Shields (who could be moved whether the Rays are buying or selling, as reported by Knobler), Josh Johnson, Matt Garza, Wandy Rodriguez, and Jeremy Hellickson.
- Tampa will listen to offers on all players except Evan Longoria, Olney notes, but it would "cost, big-time" for the Royal, or any team, to acquire Hellickson.
- Finally, Olney notes that unhappy Giant Nate Schierholtz could be a fit in the Yankees' outfield.