Any possibility of the Atlanta Braves signing Ryan Dempster is gone. The Cubs and All-Star Dempster agreed on Tuesday to a four-year contract.

Published reports said the new contract is worth at least $52 million. The signing secures the free agent right-hander's services through 2012.

Dempster, 31, went 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA for Chicago last season after returning to the rotation on a full-time basis for the first time since 2002, and after saving 85 games for the Cubs from 2005-07. He finished in the top seven in the National League in wins, ERA and strikeouts and made the All-Star team for the first time since 2000.

He set a career high and tied for third in the National League in wins, ranked fourth in the league in ERA and was third with a .227 batting average against. He also allowed only 14 home runs in 206 2/3 innings and turned in 21 quality starts, tied with Ted Lilly for most on the team.

Dempster began last season 10-0 at Wrigley Field, the first Cubs pitcher to do so since Rick Reuschel in 1977. Dempster finished the campaign 14-3 at Wrigley, the most home victories by a Cubs pitcher since Fergie Jenkins won a franchise-record 15 home games in 1967.

Dempster remains in a Cubs rotation that includes holdovers Carlos Zambrano, Lilly and Rich Harden.

The Cubs have also had discussions with San Diego regarding a possible trade involving right-hander and 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy.

Dempster is 76-81 with 87 saves and a 4.55 ERA in parts of 11 Major League seasons. Since joining Chicago prior to the 2004 season, he is 26-26 with 87 saves and a 3.59 ERA. He was an NL All-Star while with the Marlins in 2000.

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Responding to the signing of Dempster, MLB.com's Mark Bowman has written:

"Ryan Dempster's decision to re-sign with the Cubs lessens the options Braves GM Frank Wren has in his pursuit to acquire top-caliber starting pitchers. But with Dempster off the market and both Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett possibly in line to receive attractive offers from the Red Sox and Yankees, respectively, the Braves aren't going to immediately resume trade negotiations Padres in an attempt to acquire Jake Peavy.

The Braves halted a six-week attempt to land Peavy on Friday and they haven't provided any indication that they will feel forced to resume these negotiations. They need an ace. In fact, they need two starters to fill the top two spots in their starting rotation. But they currently seem hesitant to resume their pursuit of Peavy, who has never provided reason to believe he'd definitely waive his no-trade clause to play in Atlanta.

Mike Hampton, Jon Garland, Randy Wolf and Oliver Perez are among the other free agent starting pitchers who could prove to be profitable gambles. At the same time, Wren is currently talking to a number of teams attempting to find attractive starting pitchers, who may be available via trade."
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Source: MLB.com