Report: Ryan Dempster drawing interest from Yankees

The New York Yankees are surprise contenders to land the services of the Cub’s Ryan Dempster in a last-minute deal at the MLB trade deadline.

The news was first reported by FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal in a tweet:

Sources tell me and @jonmorosi that #Yankees have indeed contacted #Cubs about acquiring Dempster. Teams not talking seriously – yet.—
Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2012

Rosenthal elaborates two big reasons why Dempster would be inclined to move to New York – his old GM at the Cubs Jim Hendry currently works in the front office, and his old pitching coach Larry Rothschild currently has the same role with the Yankees.

The New York Posts’ Joel Sherman believes the Yankees’ interest could be a screen meant to draw out the Los Angeles Dodgers – Dempster’s preferred destination.

Most obvious Demspter scenario is #Cubs trying to leverage #Dodgers to give up better prospects by making think #Yankees involved heavily—
Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 31, 2012

UPDATE ( 3:07 pm. ET) – ESPN’s Bruce Levine reports that Dempster’s list of preferred trade detinations has expanded to include the Yankees as well as the Texas Rangers.

Dempster told me he has expanded his list to Yanks and Texas as well as Dodgers.—
Bruce Levine (@ESPNBruceLevine) July 31, 2012