Let's add the Rockies to the ever-growing number of teams interested in free agent right-hander Brandon Webb. Troy Renck of The Denver Post tweets that Colorado has expressed interest in the sinkerballer, who would be a nice fit in Coors Field if healthy.
The Cubs, Pirates, Twins, Rangers, and Nationals are already in on Webb, who is a big unknown at this point. He hasn't been on a big league mound in close to 21 months because of shoulder problems. Two weeks ago, Webb's agent Jonathan Maurer gave MLBTR his take on Webb's September/October instructional games. Maurer said Webb is expected to prepare at a normal pace and is ready to make 30-plus starts in 2011.
Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.
Twins are connected to Brandon Webb??
Any team who has an open spot and money to spend should look at this guy. He may never regain Cy Young form, but I feel he can be a really good pitcher.
is Webb still only throwing at mid-80’s?
82 consistently on the fastball.
ouchhh. i know he was never a hard-thrower, but thats horrible.
ouchhh. i know he was never a hard-thrower, but thats horrible.
Is Webb determined to haunt the D’Backs by staying in the NL West?
By the way, I wouldn’t listen to Webb’s agent, he’s been known to say ridiculous things.
I’d prefer to bring back Francis. He won’t cost as much, is already familiar with the organization, and has actually pitched after having the same surgery.
Francis has not won a Cy Young and yes Francis did pitch after having surgery but he didnt stay healthy all of 2010 and I’m not sure if he was ever fully healthy but even so when he was “healthy” he wasn’t all that good.
I can see your thinking and I’d love to see Francis come back and compete for a rotation spot but Brandon Webb would be worth it.
Francis or Webb would certainly be worth the chance. Depending on the money. There’s a certain financial burden there where neither would be a good risk.
Not surprised there are so many teams on Webb. Looks like a low risk/high reward candidate.
Is it true that his fastball is at 82? If that stays the case he’s going to have to figure out a way to get that changeup seperated from his fastball a little bit velocity wise. Theoretically, the changeup should be 10-15 off the fast ball.
He did have that nice sinker too.
I’m getting pretty used to the disappointment of seeing these “Rockies are interested in…” Posts only to see the half decent people they mention get signed by other teams. Bottom line is that the Rockies need some pitching help to compliment Ubaldo. I’d much rather see the Rockies re-sign De La Rosa than Francis. If they can’t resign DLR, I was hoping they’d go after Jon Garland. It seems that the Rockies have had some success in the past with sinker/groundball pitchers. (For example: Aaron Cook & Jason Marquis) I wonder how man more quality pitchers like this are available via free agency or that teams may be willing to part with. I would think that a player like Chen Ming Wang would be a great addition to the team if he were healthy. Although I’m not sure how his rehab has gone and I believe that the Nationals currently hold his contract. Wouldn’t that be nice to work out a trade to add Wang & Willingham and to also get DLR back?
I think I’d be content with a rotation like this:
Jimenez
Wang
De La Rosa
Hammel
Cook/Chacin/Rogers
As for the bullpen (which I also think needs help)
Kevin Gregg would be a very nice addition to compliment Huston Street and also take over at closer if Street goes down. I can only hope Morales finally works through his control issues and finds more consistency. If this happens, I could see Morales in any pitching role including the rotation, set up man, or spot closer, but he’d likely be a long/mid reliever or set up man.
De Le Rosa is probably going to get 4 years somewhere….and I’m not sure the Rockies want to go that far with him. They might just get outbid for his services.
Brandon Webb is a good match for a team that doesn’t really need him. It’s impossible to know how much he’s got to give considering he’s been out so long. Could come to spring training ready to go, or he could still need more time, or could be his injury doesn’t allow him to return to his old form-maybe not right away, maybe never. A place where he would be used if he does have something but also has enough options if he can’t take the mound.
That means the Dodgers, Red Sox, White Sox, Braves, Rays, A’s, or the Angels. Teams that need the rotation help immediately like the Indians, Mariners, Twins, Padres, and Mets really ought to look elsewhere for something more certain. Then they should look at Webb. He has no interest in signing a “bargain” contract. Let’s see if that changes.
as a rockies fan, if we sign him, he better be healthy. his sinker would be nice here at coors, but only if he can stay healthy