CHICAGO – With the non-waivers trade deadline officially passed, the Cubs dealt one major contributor in the final minutes.
Ryan Dempster was traded to the Texas Rangers reportedly for two minor leaguers, third baseman Christian Villanueva and right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks. Dempster joins catcher Geovany Soto in Texas after he was dealt in a separate deal that was finalized this morning. The Rangers originally drafted Dempster in the third round of the 1995 draft.
In 16 starts for the Cubs this season, Dempster went 5-5 with a 2.25 ERA. The deal to send Dempster lingered up until the deadline because of his 10-and-5 rights which gave him the ability to veto any trade. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees were also interested in the 35-year-old right hander. Dempster spent nine seasons with the Cubs, finishing with a 67-66 record, 3.74 ERA and 87 saves.
Villanueva, 21, is hitting .285 with 10 home runs and 59 RBI in 100 games for High-A Myrtle Beach. Hendricks, 22, owns a 5-8 record and 2.82 ERA for Myrtle Beach.
-- Meghan Montemurro
