PITTSBURGH – The long goodbye for Ryan Dempster may head into overtime after the Cubs’ veteran said Tuesday he would take his time to make a decision on his options.

Dempster technically has until July 31 to let the Cubs know if he would go to the Braves in the proposed deal for 22-year-old starter Randall Delgado, though his hesitation gives the Braves a chance to back out and the Cubs an opportunity to rekindle talks with Dempster’s preferred team, the Dodgers.

“I have a pretty good idea of where I want to go,” Dempster said, declining to name names. “I’m just trying to look at everything, make the best decision for me and my family.”