Sveum Blames "The Twitter" For Dempster Trade Holdup

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 24, 2012 3:40PM

It seemed as though everyone was in agreement that the Cubs had traded Ryan Dempster to Atlanta Monday except for Dempster. Neither Dempster nor the Cubs would discuss the trade speculation at PNC Park last night. Dempster has a full no-trade clause in his contract and can also veto a trade under his five-and-ten rights in Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement. Another factor that may be holding up a trade is the Cubs may be weighing all their options regarding what they can get in return for Dempster.

Those options may be limited. Scouts for contending teams are focusing on Milwaukee Brewers ace Zack Greinke, while the Miami Marlins announced their intentions to be sellers before the July 31 trade deadline Monday, sending pitcher Anibal Sanchez and second baseman Omar Infante to Detroit. Scouts are also eyeing Marlins pitcher John Johnson.

Meanwhile Cubs manager Dale Sveum blamed the early reporting of a Dempster trade on "the Twitter" and "the Facebook." Sveum did acknowledge Dempster could still be traded. He also disputed the possibility that the Cubs would trade three starters before the deadline. Dempster, Matt Garza and Paul Maholm are all considered trade bait, but Sveum said it was "impossible" all three would be dealt.