CHICAGO – Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs agreed Tuesday on a $52 million, four-year contract that includes a player option to 2012.

In this Sept. 16, 2008 file photo, Chicago Cubs' Ryan Dempster pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Dempster and the Chicago Cubs are close to agreement on a four-year contract worth about $52 million, according to a baseball official. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

He gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011. Dempster has a 2012 option for $14 million.

Dempster was 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA for the Cubs last season, then became a free agent after making the switch from the closer to starter.

As the Cubs' closer from 2005-07, he saved 87 games in 102 chances. But after earning a spot in the rotation during spring training, Dempster returned to the starter's role he held with the Marlins and Reds from 1998-2003.

Dempster was 14-3 at Wrigley Field during the regular season after starting 10-0 on the Cubs' home field. But Wrigley was also the site of one of his worst performances when he struggled in the playoff opener against the Dodgers.

Dempster threw 109 pitches in just 4 2-3 innings, giving up four runs and four hits while matching a career high seven walks. He gave up a grand slam to James Loney in the Cubs 7-2 loss and Chicago — which had the NL's best record — was swept out of the playoff in the first round for the second straight season.

On the first day of spring training last February, it was Dempster who said he thought the Cubs would win the World Series. But instead, they still haven't won one since 1908. Now he'll get another chance to help the Cubs end their long drought.

Last week, the Cubs traded for Florida reliever Kevin Gregg and said goodbye to free agent Kerry Wood. General manager Jim Hendry said the Cubs couldn't give him the long-term deal he deserved because they had more important priorities.

And one of those top priorities was re-signing Dempster.

Chicago also has explored acquiring San Diego ace Jake Peavy.

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AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.