Dempster sticks with Cubs for 2012 By Sports Network

Cubs starter Ryan Dempster pitches to the Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sep. 13, 2011. (JOHN SOMMERS II/Reuters)

CHICAGO - Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster has exercised his $14 million player option for the 2012 season.

Dempster led the team in starts (34) and innings pitched (202 1/3) last season, but posted a mark of just 10-14 along with a 4.80 earned run average.

It was his highest ERA as a starter since the 2003 season and the losses were a career high.

He had a rough start to the season as he went 1-3 in April and had an equally rough end to the season as he went 0-6 over his final eight starts.

The 34-year-old has a career record of 112-116 over 519 games, 294 of which were starts. While also pitching for Florida and Cincinnati, he has struck out 1,765 batters and has posted three shutouts and 11 complete games along with a 4.41 ERA.