The Chicago Cubs have listened to Ryan Dempster's request of wanting to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers, so in return they are asking for one of their biggest pitching prospects, Allen Webster.
Before the 2012 season starter, Webster was ranked no. 95 by Baseball America among prospects in the minors. He has been in the Dodgers' organization since 2008 when he was drafted straight out of high school. The 22-year-old has been pitching for the Dodgers since he was 18 and now has five years of minor league pitching experience.
This is the moment we were all waiting for.
Well, at least I was.
Theo Epstein was being modest when simply asking for Randall Delgado in the Atlanta Braves deal that would have shipped Dempster to the National League East.
With Webster things get a little more serious. Webster is a prospect. He is still young and still fresh. Not many will pay mind to his minor league stats. So Epstein can make it look like he is giving away Dempster for nothing.
Webster is 4-8 in the minors with a 4.06 ERA.
Not impressive.
In his last three starts, however, the young right hander is 3-3 with a 2.02 ERA. He has 48 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched and has not allowed more the three runs per outing.
The Dodgers will have to now evaluate how badly the would want Dempster in their team. He can give them the right playoff push, but in the long run, what exactly can the 35-year-old provide for LA?
The Cubs and Dodgers still have a couple of days left before the 4 p.m. trade deadline on July 31st.
