By MARK MAYNARD — The Independent
PHOENIX — In the end, the Arizona Diamondbacks figured the reward was greater than the risk with Brandon Webb.
Arizona exercised its $8.5 million option on Friday, keeping the former Cy Young winner in their camp for at least another year.
“There’s risk in everything,” said D-Back GM Josh Byrnes. “With the last three months I think some of the risk has been reduced because the surgery went well and Webby’s responded well. I think there’s a lot of reward. I mean, you’re talking about one of the best pitchers in baseball, so as we made that decision, in our mind, the reward was greater than the risk.”
Arizona would have had to pay a $2 million buyout if it had declined the option.
Webb, 30, was the opening day pitcher last season but didn’t take the mound again the rest of the season, undergoing surgery on his pitching shoulder on Aug. 4.
“I’ve worked hard since Aug. 4 and everything is going really good, the strength is back there,” Webb said. “Everything has been going great.”
Webb and Byrnes spoke on a conference call shortly after the announcement was made.
The plan is for Webb to begin throwing Wednesday and for him to long toss four days before shutting it down until he goes through his normal pre-spring training program later this winter.
“I’m pretty certain it’s going to feel good,” he said. “We’ll just move forward and go through a regular throwing program for spring training.”
By most reports, Webb has been making progress since the surgery and the team fully expects him ready by spring training.
“He’s worked very hard since the surgery,” Byrnes said, “and we’re confident that he’ll return to be a very healthy, effective pitcher.”
A three-time All-Star, Webb won the 2006 NL Cy Young Award and was second in voting the next two years. He is 87-62 with a 3.27 ERA in seven seasons. He ranks second in franchise history to Randy Johnson in wins, starts (198), innings pitched (1,319 2-3) and strikeouts (1,065).
Webb’s 15 complete games rank behind Johnson and Curt Schilling for the Diamondbacks.
“His accomplishments for our organization have been significant,” Byrnes said. “We look forward to him returning to the mound.”
Webb seemed happy to have it all behind him and he understood the dilemma the D-backs faced in picking up the option. “It was up in the air I think for awhile and rightfully so,” he said.
Webb was asked about rediscovering the sinker, his signature pitch, and the pitcher answered in the affirmative.
“I’m real confident in that,” he said. “Even when I was throwing and was still having some pain, the life on the ball was still there. I was even flipping some change-ups that were good. I can’t be too sure, but I’m pretty sure that I’ll always have the sinking action. That’s the way my arm action is, it allows the ball to do that.”
Webb had pitched more than 200 innings each season from 2004 through 2008 and won 56 games from 2006 through 2008. He went 22-7 in 2008, tying Cleveland’s Cliff Lee for the most victories in the majors.
Before last season, Webb had only been on the disabled list once as a major leaguer, missing 15 days with right elbow tendonitis in 2003.
“It’s been tough,” he said. “I’m usually used to being out there as much as anybody. It’s tough to sit on the sideline and see the team struggle.”
If the D-backs had not exercised the option, Webb would have been a free agent for the first time in his career. He signed contract extensions in 2004 and 2006.
“This has always been my first choice, for sure, to stay here,” he said. “I always wanted to return here and if I didn’t I would have had to try to spark some interest from other teams. This is the easiest choice for me. I’m comfortable here and I’ve been playing here for seven years.”
Webb and his wife, Alicia, have two children, with the second being born in August.
The $8.5 million option for Webb is about 10 percent of the D-backs payroll.
MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@
dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
