MARK MAYNARD: D-backs likely to keep Webb

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October 21, 2009

Anonymous The Daily Independent Wed Oct 21, 2009, 09:32 AM EDT

The latest on Brandon Webb’s situation looks something like this:

Arizona will likely pick up the $8.5 million option on Webb’s contract. They would like to add a one-year extension but Webb isn’t interested. It’s not that he’s interested in leaving Arizona, though.

But Webb would like that one long-term deal, preferably with the Diamondbacks but, if not, then somebody else.

Of course, he’ll have to prove that the minor surgery on his shoulder was just a minor setback.

I can understand how both sides feel about the deal.

The D-backs would like to keep Webb for as long, and as cheaply, as they can. Webb wants, and deserves, the kind of deal that other pitchers of his caliber (CC Sabathia, Jake Peavy, etc.) have cashed in on.

But Arizona isn’t going to offer a long-term anything until it knows, for sure, that Webb post-surgery is as good as Webb pre-surgery. It’s a business and that’s understandable, too.

So the likely scenario will be for Webb to begin pitching again next season and if the D-backs are out of the race by the All-Star break, then they may offer him as bait for some young prospects.

If the D-backs are in the race, they’ll obviously need Webb to stay there.

Arizona was stung by Webb’s absence this season. The D-backs finished last in the National League West for a lot of reasons but the major one was Webb, who pitched only four innings on Opening Day before being shelved for the season.

Webb has had checkups with the doctor that performed the surgery on his ailing shoulder in August and all looked good. He won’t be throwing off the mound until after Arizona has decided on taking the option, which appears likely. He won’t throw at all until mid-November and plans on shutting it down until spring after four or five days of long tossing.

All in all, Arizona picking up his option is a good deal for Webb, who can continue to build his case for what would be a blockbuster deal either with the D-backs or as a free agent next year.

“Basically, (general manager) Josh (Byrnes) said they had every intention of picking the option up barring something crazy happening,” Webb told MLB.com on Friday. “They told me they would probably take it down to the end before officially doing it. I understand where they are coming from with that. Sure I'd like to know now, but it makes sense for them. It was a good meeting. I felt good about it and I think they did too.”

Webb seems genuinely settled and happy in Arizona. And having him as the face of the organization would be a good thing for the Dia-

mondbacks, too.

But baseball is a business and it changes daily. Good players come and go with almost every organization. A lot is going to happen between now and next year’s All-Star break.

I’m sure Webb just wants to be out there competing again. A year off the mound certainly wasn’t what he had in mind last winter.

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