After being linked to several teams previously, Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster finally finds a new home with the Texas Rangers, the team that originally drafted him.  In return, Chicago will receive two prospects, third baseman Christian Villanueva and right-hander Kyle Hendricks.

Dempster, who is in the final year of his current contract, is ranked second in ERA among major league pitchers with a mark of 2.25, and he just recently had a string of 33 consecutive innings pitched without allowing an earned run snapped two  outings ago against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Not only will Dempster add quality to the Rangers rotation, he will also provide the team with another solid veteran presence in the clubhouse.

Ever since it was determined that starting pitcher Colby Lewis was going to be lost for the rest of the season due to elbow surgery, the Texas Rangers have been looking to add quality depth to their rotation, and by acquiring Dempster they didn't just add depth, they may have added an ace.  He will own the lowest ERA and WHIP among current starts on the team, as well as the best strikeout-to-walk ratio.  Not only does the addition of Dempster help the rotation, it may help the bullpen as well if the Rangers elect to use the returning Neftali Feliz as a reliever instead of a starter for the remainder of the season.

In return the Cubs are receiving two young and raw prospects.  Christian Villanueva is 21 years-old and was signed as an international free agent from Mexico in 2009.  He has spent all season at High-A Myrtle Beach hitting .285 with 10 home runs.  Entering the 2012 season he was ranked as the organizations ninth best prospect by Baseball America.  Kyle Hendricks was drafted out of Dartmouth in the 8th round of the 2011 amateur draft.  He has also spent this season in High-A ball, posting a 2.82 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 20 starts. 

From a fantasy stand point, Dempster's low-2.00's ERA is unlikely to sustain no matter where he pitches, but moving to Texas, an even more hitter friendly park than Wrigley Field really puts it in jeopardy.  He will though likely see a higher win total at season's end with the Rangers, then he would have had if he stayed in Chicago.