Red Sox agree to sign Ryan Dempster for two years, $26.5M

Veteran right-hander Ryan Dempster appears to be shipping up to Boston. (US Presswire)

Free-agent starting pitcher Ryan Dempster is in agreement on a two-year, $26.5-million deal with the Red Sox, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

Dempster, 35, was 12-8 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 153 strikeouts in 173 innings last season for the Cubs (16 starts) and Rangers (12 starts). Since returning to a full-time starter role in 2008, Dempster is 65-49 with a 3.74 ERA.

Though it's unlikely the Red Sox are done working on their starting pitching situation, right now it appears Dempster would join Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Felix Doubront in the rotation.

In Dempster, the Red Sox get one thing they desperately need -- an innings eater. From 2008-11, Dempster pitched at least 200 innings before dealing with two separate injuries in 2012 that limited him to 173 innings with the Cubs and Rangers.

Dempster has spent the majority of his career in the National League, making his American League debut last season with the Rangers after a trade on July 31. He went 7-3 with a 5.09 ERA in 12 starts with Texas but was 6-3 with a 4.01 ERA after his first three starts with the new team.

Earlier this offseason, Dempster had reportedly turned down a two-year, $25-million deal from the Red Sox and a two-year, $26-million deal from the Royals. The Brewers were also reportedly interested in his services.

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