WEDNESDAY: Maurer tells the Associated Press that Webb "loves Arizona" and would be open to re-signing with the Snakes. The D'Backs released a statement strongly suggesting that Webb won't re-sign in Arizona. “Although we have not entirely closed the door on Brandon returning to the D-backs next season, I understand the process he and his agent are going through at this time as a free agent,” D'Backs GM Kevin Towers said.
"I certainly understand Brandon's decision to test the free agent market and I wish him well,” said Arizona President & CEO Derrick Hall. “He has meant so much to this franchise and provided this team and our fans with magical memories. His contributions both on and off the field are greatly appreciated and should be recognized. His wife and children have been beautiful additions to our D-backs family and we will always consider them members of it."
TUESDAY: The Diamondbacks haven't discussed a new deal with free agent right-hander Brandon Webb and the team does not plan to initiate talks with him, according to Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com. Webb made three Instructional League appearances this fall after rehabbing from the rotator cuff and labrum injuries that sidelined him for most of 2009 and all of 2010. His fastball topped out in the low-80s, which could limit interest.
Jonathan Maurer, the agent for the former Cy Young Award winner, told MLBTR that his client will be looking for a significant base salary in 2011. Though the D'Backs don't appear likely to retain Webb in 2011, plenty of teams could have interest in upside starters this winter.
Ouch, can’t see him or anyone excelling in the majors with a fastball that can’t even reach 85
Buehrle sez hii
Webb is a sinkerballer like Buehrle, he doesn’t need to through fast. The slower a sinker, the more movement it has.
Someone that relies on good breaking stuff and control could get it done (see Jamie Moyer), but in Webb’s case I agree. How heavy can his sinker be in the low 80’s?
Coming back from an injury like that I would think it would take some time for him to rebuild strength in that arm. He’s not a guy that has ever relied solely on velocity so I think it would be easier for him to come back than it would be for a power pitcher. Good buy-low guy. Oakland anybody? They like taking chances like this. Ben Sheets may have left a bad taste in their mouth though.
Well, at his peak, Webb averaged around 88 mph on his sinker.
The guy is more of a command and movement pitcher.
If the command and movement is still there, I’d take a gamble on him. The guy hasn’t pitched in almost 2 seasons so you should have expected a speed decrease.
It’ll boil down to how much he wants. If it’s anything like the Sheets contact of last year (a really bad signing from the start) then I’d pass.
2 mil with incentives or 4 mil with club options.
Aat least to me Webb’s sinker doesn’t seem like a natural sinker, but more a sinking two-seam fastball, a pitch that he relies on excessively.
And while yes Webb has never been a power pitcher, his average velocity, and his movement was already declining before the injuries. Now if he can’t manage to rebuild the speed I can’t see him being able to replicate his former success.
As far as comparing him to Buehrle has some issues, Buehrle has been successful pitching in the mid 80s; Webb was successful pitching in the low 90s, high 80s, if he can’t rebuild his velocity than it’d be a 6 mph drop on average from 2007. And you really can’t predict too accurately a players success when there’s going to be that much change in raw stuff.
What type of base salary does he want? Nobody is going to offer a Sheets-esque deal again at $10 million. Would $4 million not be enough?
$4M guaranteed is too much. $1M + $7M-$9M in potential bonuses.
Wang received $2M, Webb has to be looking for more than that imo.
I definitely think there are teams out there who will offer more than 1 mil (base) for a chance at a pretty young former Cy Young winner.
It seems to me like Webb is seeking more security in base salary so you’d have to increase that in order to coax him.
It might be more lucrative but why risk your salary for a chance to receive more?
Would love to see the Nats gamble on him.
I think he’d be a great fit in the Phils’ rotation. When he’s healthy, he’s the best sinker-baller in the game, hands down, and the Phils’ will play good defense behind him. Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt, Blanton and a healthy Webb would easily make for the best rotation in baseball.
Makes more sense for the Mets.
Pretty much makes sense for anybody. He’s a good gamble. Lol
Anyone else that’s not in the NL East, except the Mets lol.
Makes sense, but not for the Mets. They cannot afford to take any risks with contracts.Beltran, Bay, Perez, and Castillo will make any kind of mistake, no matter how small, armageddon in Mets land.
Nah, no way. Alderson has the trust of the fanbase (the non-idiotic fans) right now and can afford to make an error or two if it comes down to it. I don’t think any of us expect to suddenly compete with the Phillies and their ridiculous rotation for at least a few years.
If there are no MLB takers and Webb signs a minor league contract for a couple of million guaranteed, he’s a useful signing for just about any playoff capable team with the money to spend.
The team would be gambling with a potential replacement starter, who might be able to save a season if one of their starting five gets hurt.
In my opinion, that’s the role he’ll have to take. No smart team should be planning on a 85 mph thrower with a bad shoulder taking one of their five rotation slots. Webb is “hope he can” rather than “know he can” pitcher at this point.
What you say makes sense and is borne of sound reasoning, but not for the Mets. Alderson has already stated that the Mets will not go heavily into the FA market. They are not going to sign a player for $2MM and then send him to the minors and hope it works out for them. If there are no MLB takers as you say,why would they offer that kind of money in the first place?
You’re absolutely right that Alderson said the Mets are not planning to go heavily into the FA market.To me that means they’ll be picking through the bargain basement looking for a gem. So in Webb, I see a more expensive opportunity to pick up another RA Dickey. Yes it will cost them much more, but at 2MM he’s still a relatively cheap item.As for why teams will pass on him for a Majors deal, it’s because there’s nothing sure about him coming back to his previous form. I expect the teams interested in him will probably want him to pitch in the Minors first.Trying a deal like that is one of their options, although they will have a few playing around at the markets lower end. It’s going to be interesting to see if Alderson can distinguish himself quickly with a good low-dollars play.
I really, really like that idea. I think he would do just fine as the #4 or #5 starter in the Phils rotation.
Good point man.
The Cubs should sign him so Ricketts can put the nail in Hendry’s coffin.
I’ll look at Webb from a different angle and think he’ll wind up as a closer.
I’d love for the Astros to take a look but damn, knowing my boys, we’d give him 3 yrs, 33 mil.
Too bad Webb wanted so much (base of 7.5MM or something) cause I would’ve loved to have seen him make a comeback as a Dback.
If he demands a significant base salary I bet his 2011 season will be a lot like Gary Sheffield’s 2010 season.
maybe in the off season he can talk to Tim Wakefield and maybe learn to throw the knuckle ball, 80 miles an hour? ouch.
He would make a great replacement for Brad Penny….
Right now, Webb is not a good fit for any team! He’s no where near where he was two seasons ago and may never get there again. He is a high risk gamble and no team will can afford to pencil him in as a starter unless he shows dramatic improvement in the next four months. Adding the words “when healthy . . .” does not change the fact that he’s not healthy. If they were healthy, Webb, Sheets, Bedard, Wang, and Duscherer would be an outstanding rotation but, they are all recovering from major arm problems and cannot be counted on for anything. Take a flyer on Webb with a veterans minimum or a minor league deal and hope you get lucky but that’s all you can expect.
Webb wants a “signifcant base salary” yeah ok ask Jermaine Dye how that worked out for him this past season
He’s a pitcher. Teams are more likely to take a chance on a former cy young winner than a terrible defensive aging outfielder like dye. He’ll get a decent base salary from somebody that wants to take a gamble.
He’s a pitcher. Teams are more likely to take a chance on a former cy young winner than a terrible defensive aging outfielder like dye. He’ll get a decent base salary from somebody that wants to take a gamble.
Hopefully he eases up on his rehab now. He was rushing to pitch towards the end of the season (to showcase to other teams) and it seemed like he was at risk for re-injury. I was expecting at any moment to hear about him throwing out his shoulder again because he was rushing to get back and throwing too hard or something…
Hopefully he takes a deep breath, slows down, and continues on a nice strong rehab routine. I’m sure teams would be more than willing to sign him mid-season.
Beware sinkerballers coming off injuries. We still haven’t heard from Chien-Mien Wang. It seems if he could even have gotten the ball over the plate last year, the Nats would’ve called him up.
More than him being a sinkerballer, Wang and Webb have had shoulder injuries. Beware any pitcher with shoulder trouble.
Of course, being a sinkerballer might make it worse, if you don’t have any variety. Frankly that was always a problem with Wang. Wang got by because he could pound the sinker at 94-96, making him difficult to hit even when he missed location. If his velocity doesn’t return, it’s unlikely he’ll ever pitch well again.
This sounds like an ideal Dave Duncan project candidate. A game here would be worth it, Cardinals.
What did I mean by this?
Whatever. Sign Webb.