by Tom FornelliFiled under: Diamondbacks, MLB Free Agency
Brandon Webb has spent most of the last two seasons battling a shoulder injury he suffered during spring training in 2009. He started for the Diamondbacks on Opening Day last year, but lasted only four innings before his shoulder forced him out, and has had more surgeries than innings pitched since. Which isn't the best way to go into free agency if you're a pitcher.Webb had said earlier this season that he'd love to return to Arizona, where he's won 87 games and a Cy Young Award back in 2006, but it doesn't seem as if that is going to happen. Teams have an exclusive negotiating window of five days following the World Series with current players who are entering free agency, but the Diamondbacks haven't made any contact with Webb about bringing him back.
It seems the $7.5 million that Webb's agent Jonathan Maurer is said to be seeking is a bit out of the price range for a Diamondbacks team that isn't looking to spend a lot of money this winter. Particularly on someone who hasn't pitched in two years and was topping out at 83 mph during three appearances in the Instructional League. In fact, of the five Arizona pitchers who are entering free agency -- Webb, Aaron Heilman, Rodrigo Lopez, Kris Benson and Mike Hampton -- Hampton is the only one that the Diamondbacks seem interested in bringing back.
Webb should catch on somewhere this winter, though I'd be shocked if anybody actually decides to give him $7.5 million. If I had to make a prediction, I'd guess he gets a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Teams just aren't going to want to spend money on a pitcher coming off shoulder surgery, no matter how well he pitched in the past.
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