Ryan Dempster Leaving Baseball For 2014 Season, Will Not Pitch For Red Sox

It seemed like the Boston Red Sox had more starting pitchers than they had spots for heading into spring training, but that issue may have just been solved.

Right-hander Ryan Dempster told FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that he won’t pitch for the Red Sox in 2014, and instead will turn his focus to his family.

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The Red Sox confirmed the news via the team’s Twitter account.

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Dempster said in an announcement in Fort Myers that he’s only looking at the 2014 season, and he may keep the door open, but doesn’t see that changing right now.

The 36-year-old veteran is coming off a World Series championship season with the Red Sox where he held a spot in the starting rotation until October, when he was demoted to the bullpen as Clay Buchholz returned from injury. Dempster was entering the 2014 season with an undefined spot on the roster, and was expected to fight for the Red Sox’s fifth spot in the starting rotation.

Dempster is in the last year of a $13.25 million deal with the Red Sox, and according to Rosenthal, the Sox are expected to place Dempster on the restricted list. He would not receive his salary from the team in 2014.

Dempster told reporters he would have great memories from his time in Boston.

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