After 16 seasons in Major League Baseball, World Series Champion and former Chicago Cubs hurler Ryan Dempster is officially hanging it up – one year after deciding to take the 2014 season off to spend more time with his family, bypassing a hefty sum of money with the Boston Red Sox in the process.
Source: Ryan Dempster will not pursue a deal this offseason, and he is now officially retired. Goes out as a World Series champion.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) October 8, 2014
Dempster, 37, won’t be netting any Hall of Fame consideration given he finished his career one game under .500 at 132-133 as both a starter and a reliever with five teams – including nine with the Cubs – more than any other organization. Although he experienced some rocky times with Chicago during his stint in the Windy City, toward the latter end of his time there, he became a fan favorite – due, in part, for his work in the community.
In four-and-a-half years as a Cubs starter, Dempster totaled just under 930 innings of work – including four consecutive campaigns with at least 200 innings pitched.
From 2004 to 2007, the right-hander worked out of the bullpen for the Cubs, finishing 53, a league-high 64 and 58 games in a three-year span. All of his 87 career saves were converted during his time with Chicago, as well. However, prior to the 2008 campaign, the Cubs converted Dempster to a starter – to stellar results.
The right-hander finished sixth in the National League Cy Young balloting that season, posting an 17-6 record with a 2.96 ERA across 33 starts, totaling 206 2/3 innings of work. Some of his other numbers – including 187 strikeouts and a 1.120 WHIP – were among the best of his career.
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In four-and-a-half years as a starter, Dempster totaled just under 930 innings of work – including four consecutive campaigns with at least 200 innings pitched. He also notched double-digit wins in each of those seasons, becoming an innings-eater for a Chicago team that was near the top of the National League Central standings in several of those years – including back-to-back division titles in 2007 and 2008.
In the midst of a rebuild, with the team under new ownership and a new front office, Dempster saw his time in Chicago draw to a close after a dominant first half in 2012. The veteran 2.25 ERA across his first 16 starts, to go along with a 1.038 WHIP, made him a valuable trade commodity – eventually leading to his trade to the Texas Rangers in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers – including 2014 breakout rookie right-hander Kyle Hendricks.
Following the trade, the right-hander struggled for Texas, going 7-3 but posting a less-than-savory 5.09 ERA.
Prior to the 2013 season, Dempster joined the Red Sox, a relationship that culminated in a World Series title. As noted, he left the second year of his two-year pact with Boston on the table in 2014 in order to spend more time at home.
The veteran finishes his big league career with 2,075 strikeouts – which ranks 64th in big league history.