Oct
04
Diamondbacks undecided about re-signing Brandon Webb
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ general manager Kevin Towers will monitor Brandon Webb’s outing in an instruction league game on Thursday before deciding the right-handers’ future with the team, according to The Arizona Republic’s Bob McManaman.
“When he’s healthy and on top of his game, he’s a guy you don’t ever want to face,” Towers said. “I’m going to evaluate him with my own eyes, based on what I’ve seen from him in the past and by what I’m going to see.”
Webb, a free-agent after this season, has not pitched since Opening Day of 2009. He experienced shoulder discomfort that eventually led to shoulder surgery in August of that year.
If he signs with any team, Webb most likely would have to sign an incentive-laden deal given his recent string of injuries but a good starting point for contract negotiations should be Ben Sheets, Brad Penny or Rich Harden money.
The Washington Nationals sent scouts to watch Webb over the weekend. Webb has a relationship with Nat’s GM Mike Rizzo. Rizzo drafted Webb in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft when he was director of scouting with Arizona.
Webb may be a risk worth taking. There was a three-year period where Webb was arguably the best pitcher in baseball. In 2006, he won the National League Cy Young Award by going 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA. Two years later, he won 22 games and had a 3.30 ERA with the D-backs.
