According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, Brandon Webb said Saturday that he doesn't anticipate inking a deal this offseason that would keep him in Arizona beyond 2010.
That doesn't mean he's not willing to sign an extension with the Diamondbacks somewhere down the road. In fact, he's very open to it. But with his health in question and the club having to monitor their finances in a down economy, it's simply not feasible right now.
“It would be real tough to make it work for both sides,” Webb said. “I don’t want to be held down and have to pitch another year — have to pitch 2010 and 2011 — to become a free agent. I told them, ‘If you pick up the option and we don’t do anything, let me pitch the half year and see how I’m doing and feeling and then maybe we can revisit it.’"
It appears the D'Backs will simply exercise his $8.5MM option for next season. They can then reevaluate the situation near the trade deadline in July of 2010.
