Dempster Not Traded?

I have to confess that unlike most Cubs fans, I have never venerated Dempster as a pitcher or a person.  I'm also a little surprised that Dempster has had such a good season thus far even though he has been disabled twice.  I had pretty much written him off.

This latest display of petulance, however, certainly gives the lie to all the team player propaganda that is usually disseminated by the media with regard to what a great guy Demp is.  Dempster surely must realize that he is not a part of the Cubs future plans.  They reluctantly accepted his exercise of the player option Hendry gave him for 2012 and they have made no secret of the fact they have no intention of signing him in 2013 and every intention of wanting to trade him now at the height of the market.

I know that Dempster prefers to pitch for LA, but he has apparently listed Atlanta as his #2 choice.  I'm not sure why the Cubs are even talking to LA about anyone.  The Dodgers have a weak and depleted farm system not much better than the Cubs.  Their prize prospect, Zack Lee, is well regarded, but he has only recently been promoted to AA and he hasn't pitched very well there.  Lots of things can happen in the two years or so it will take him to reach the majors.  The Braves, on the other hand, have got a lot of talent in the minors that is on the verge of promotion.

Word is that this matter will be resolved this afternoon one way or the other.  Perhaps it is time for Epstein or Hoyer to sit down with Dempster and explain some things like, hey, how can you be surprised about a trade rumor when that's all anyone in the Chicago press has talked about for a month and we didn't leak the thing, but we're talking about two months here, not the rest of your life, and you are going to a playoff contender.

Plus, of course, the Cubs could get nasty and petulant as well.  If he remains with the team, they are in a position to influence his value as a free agent in a big way and if they have no interest in this value, they could certainly diminish it greatly.