Diamondbacks Rumors: Webb, Byrnes

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic spoke to General Managing Partner Ken Kendrick of the Arizona Diamondbacks about the team's future. Here are a few of the highlights:

• The team has "every intention" of exercising Brandon Webb's $8.5MM option.
• Like GM Josh Byrnes said earlier in the week, there's no guarantee the team will hang on to outfielder Eric Byrnes just because of his bloated contract. Kendrick said the deal "looks like a mistake."
• The payroll for 2010 should be in the $75MM-$79MM range, after the team spent $73MM in 2009.
• Josh Byrnes could then have up to $20MM to address the team's needs in the offseason. Piecoro suggests that might mean looking at "the bullpen, a vacancy in the rotation, and perhaps…a veteran position player."
• Kendrick sees the bullpen as the main priority when adding new talent this winter.