Kap: Cubs, Dodgers far apart in Dempster trade talks

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Impeccable major league sources have confirmed to me tonight that the Cubs and Dodgers, who were trying to complete a deal for Cubs starter Ryan Dempster, have reached a stalemate in their trade talks, with the Dodgers refusing to increase their offer and the Cubs refusing to lower their demands.

Those same sources also confirmed to me that the Dodgers believe that after Dempster refused to approve a trade to the Braves, the animosity that decision created will force the Cubs to trade him by the July 31st deadline.

However, two major league executives that I spoke with tonight who have dealt with Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer numerous times told me that there is no way that the new Cubs front office will cave in and trade Dempster to the Dodgers for less than what they believe is an appropriate package.

"Dempster will have to answer some tough questions if he is still a Cub after the deadline. That will be one press conference I would want to see. He will have to explain to the fans why he chose to stay on a team that is going nowhere when he could have been in Atlanta and possibly pitching in the playoffs. That will be interesting to hear," one executive told me.

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