ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has an excellent article on Diamondbacks starter Brandon Webb, who appears primed for a big contract year after missing nearly the entire 2009 season due to shoulder issues. It's easy to forget how dominant Webb was prior to '09; his agent Jonathan Maurer considers the pitcher a "quiet superstar."
Webb is up for free agency after the season, and like most players, he's looking for the best contract possible:
"Obviously you want to see what's out there and do the best deal you can for yourself and your family. That's probably No. 1. We've had a great time in Arizona, and if everything works out and we stay here, that would be good. But to get back close to home [in Kentucky] would be just as good. I'm definitely keeping it open. I'm not going to hold myself down to just Arizona."
D'Backs GM Josh Byrnes would only admit that it'd be "challenging" to sign Webb long-term. Though next year's free agent starting pitching class looks strong, a return to form could have him searching for a deal north of $80MM. Webb will turn 32 in May of 2011.
If Webb focuses on playing close to home, we can probably rule out the West Coast teams. Cincinnati would be closest, followed by Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, and Washington, D.C.
Sounds like someone wants to be a Cincinnati Red
wait, wouldn’t st.louis be closer than D.C or Pittsburgh?
Nope, not if he lives in Ashland, KY.
Cinci can’t afford him. No reason for him to go to Pittsburgh. Cleveland might move people around to be able to afford him, but I see him wanting to stay in the NL (same thing for the Tigers). I think the Nationals are all about shelling money out in the next few years – I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in DC.
Cinci can’t afford him, really? Buyouts for Harang and Arroyo nets the team $19.75M. Tavares leaving frees up $4M, Lincoln and Rhodes frees up another $4M. Cot’s contracts provides this info, and can spare you the embarrassment of making baseless comments in the future…
Because it makes sense for a small market team to shell out a ton of money for an aging pitcher, regardless of how much money they have coming off the books.
Deals like that are why the Reds have a mediocre roster with no payroll flexibility right now.
i just checked a map..if its the west side of kentucky he lives in…st.louis would be almost the same distance as cincinnatti..i think you messed up their tim.
At 452 mi from Ashland, KY, St. Louis is farther away than all the cities I named (about 30 miles more than DC). At least according to Google Maps.
thank you, but i thought he lived in the west side of kentucky where that 452 would be cut in half..even more than half. my mistake.
STL would be far closer than most of those cities.
There’s no guarantee that he will ever be good again after the shoulder injury.
What about Kansas City? It’s a longshot.
I read an article on him some time back when he got injured that his injury was one they saw a mile away and that he will continue to have issues throughout the rest of his career becuase of some physical issue with hsi shoulder that no surgery can fix. The article also said the D-backs knew about it and it was why they didnt extend him 1yr or 2 ago. Wish I could find it I hate throwing things out there without the actual article to back it up. But if that is true, I wouldnt want to throw him $80M+. He would merely become the next Mike Hampton.
Who said Mike Hampton?! Let me get out the Vaseline again. Im sure a few Yankees fans will be lining up too. Damn Hampton and Pavano. Oh goodness the back door is burning in pain!
Webb lives in Eastern Kentucky.
Cincinnati is a 3 hour trip.
Washington 6
Pitt is 4
Cleveland 5
St. Louis 7
Detroit 6
Only 2 of those is with in real driving distance.
That list of cities I have in the post is done in the order of miles from Ashland, KY to the team’s city, ranging from roughly 200 for Cincy to 430 for DC.
Yea I was just posting the time it takes to make those drives to give another way of looking at it. If he wants to be close to home I’d imagine he wants something with in driving distance. Only 2 really fit the bill and the rest are likely plane trips.
Distance from Cincy to Ashland = 106 miles
What about Kansas City? It’s a long shot, but wouldn’t Gil Meche be falling off their books by then?
you know the city by any chance?
Ashland
Bye Webby. 🙁
I just hope the Dbacks can get something of value for him before he’s gone.
He, like most other current Dbacks players, grew up a Braves fan if I’m not mistaken. Funny they weren’t mentioned as potential suitors.
Braves already have a solid rotation and cant afford that kind of arm to add. They are better off spending that much on a bat but they wont cuz (a) they want to see how the young bats do ie heyward and freeman and (b) they are too cheap.
Detroit has a ton of money coming off the books after the 2010 season. I think they will be spending big.
yeah and their gonna try to lock up guys like porcello and verlander….especially verlander.
agreed, but only if they can lock up some strong core pitchers besides Verlander. I see this as a great home for Carl Crawford next season. Seems like a match if you ask me with Granderson gone. Melky and Crawford would combine for a solid CF/LF combo… Magglio comes off the books next year no? So they definitely have room to add outfielders.
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/detroit-tigers_21.html
Crawford would be a great addition, but at what cost? He is going to garner a lot of attention (if he reaches free agency).
Verlander is going to get a load of cash, and I see the Tigers giving it to him.
Agreed on both points, except I do think the tigers give verlander the money. He’s the face of the franchise. Itd be like the Sox not resigning Beckett. It would make the fans furious
Reread what I wrote. I think that the Tigers will pay Verlander the money, too. Maybe I phrased it wrong…whatever.
I wonder about Beckett. You would think it would be a no-brainer for the Red Sox. I’m not so sure. I have a feeling that he is going to test free agency and get some massive offers; long term offers that Boston would cringe at. Thoughts?
He may. But he fits so well in Boston. I don’t think he wants to change a good thing unless he doesn’t get the respect he deserves from a Sox offer.
i was on the post about the Mark McGwire being a pinch hitter & listened to the broadcast that was linked from the site & the guys were asking Epstein about the Red Sox offseason & then they asked him about Beckett, he said (this isn’t an exact quote, i’m just summing it up), “i don’t like talking about re-negotiations in public but we definitely like Josh & Josh really likes his teammates, the fans, the front office, i think there is a deal that can be done.”
i was on the post about the Mark McGwire being a pinch hitter & listened to the broadcast that was linked from the site & the guys were asking Epstein about the Red Sox offseason & then they asked him about Beckett, he said (this isn’t an exact quote, i’m just summing it up), “i don’t like talking about re-negotiations in public but we definitely like Josh & Josh really likes his teammates, the fans, the front office, i think there is a deal that can be done.”
Cincinnati has considerable dollars coming off the books in 2011 and a young core that won’t be making major dollars for a few more years. While it would be foolish for them to give Webb a CC like deal they can afford to give him a high dollar one. Webb is exactly the kind of pitcher that Cincy should give a contract too, and with their IF defense it would be a good team for Webb as well especially if Janish is still the SS
Cincinnati could easily afford Webb after declining options on Harang and/or Arroyo.
a “quiet superstar?”
Webb is the model for consistancy (before his injured 2009 season) and is among the best NL pitchers in baseball. I think he’d struggle a bit more in the AL (especially AL East) but he’s an elite pitcher nonetheless. I hardly think he’s a “quiet superstar”. Hes a model for excellence and a class act. I hope the DBacks can find a way to lock him up longterm with a healthy 2010. He and Haren are one of the best 1-2 punches in the NL next to the Giants Lincecum/Cain and the Cards Carpenter/Wainwright.
I think he is very much a quiet superstar, I would guess his popularity among casual fans does not match his career.
I’m just saying I think there’s not a single individual who would argue he’s not a star Tim. He’s been great.
If they mean physically he’s a quiet individual, then sure. But everyone considers him a star I would think. In that regard, its not quiet that he’s a star who could command big bucks with a strong 2010. That was all I meant.
Him being injured all of 2009 certainly contributes to his “quiet superstar” label.
Exactly. That’s more than likely what he was referring to. But as I was saying a strong 2010 could put him in line for a 3 year 40-45MM deal or more. His previous years were very consistent
Agreed. I’m sure many teams will be scouting him closely all season long.
1) Webb
2) Volquez
3) queto
4) Arroyo
5) Harang/Bailey..
easily one of the best rotations in the national league.
At least spell Cueto’s name correctly. 😛
lol my bad..was typing too fast..point still stands.
Arroyo is a FA in 2011
1) Webb
2) Volquez
3) Bailey
4) Arroyo / Harang
5) Cueto
Fixed 🙂
It’s a lot to count on with Volquez and Webb recovering from difficult injuries.
But with Bryce as the new pitching coach, you can see how the stars may be aligning for the Reds to finally land a good FA next winter.
1) Webb
2) Volquez
3) Bailey
4) Arroyo / Harang
5) Cueto
Fixed 🙂
It’s a lot to count on with Volquez and Webb recovering from difficult injuries.
But with Bryce as the new pitching coach, you can see how the stars may be aligning for the Reds to finally land a good FA next winter.
If he’s going for being close to home, I’d guess Washington will sign him for 5 years/$90MM+ but to be perfectly honest, I could see the Mets doing what they do best and handing him a 5 year/$100MM deal. Seems like the kind of guy they’d want and the kind of money/years they’d throw at him.
How about Atlanta? That is not a far drive from Kentucky, especially eastern KY.
7 hours
Braves already have a solid rotation and cant afford that kind of arm to add. They are better off spending that much on a bat but they wont cuz (a) they want to see how the young bats do ie heyward and freeman and (b) they are too cheap.
I put this up again in case you missed me say it to the other person who suggested ATL
its more specifically north eastern kentucky…so from his home to ATL..it would be a pretty long drive.
Nice opportunity for Cincy. They’ve just hired Webb’s old pitching coach, Bryan Price.
Another good point that could factor. Not saying its possible but hey cincy seems like the most logical place for him to land as long as some major payroll team doesnt some how bid Cincy out of the market. They could probably afford him and if its close to home who says that he wouldnt sign for a lesser deal. Perfect situation probably.
Webb in Washington??
RHP Webb
LHP Lannan
LHP S.Olsen
RHP Marquis
RHP Stratsburg.
sex’n
I also wouldn’t rule out the Mets. As of now they’ve got most of their primary positions locked up but they’re still in desperate need of a #2 pitcher to compliment Santana and give the combination of Halladay/Hamels some competition.
Unless they trade for a legit #2 between now and next October, I’d count them in any SP race (Webb, Lee)
Can’t we all agree that Webb would make a lot of sense for MOST teams. Also, EVERY team has money coming off the books after this season. That’s the nature of the business. Every year players go and along with those players their salaries leave as well.
Finally, unless a place is within a few hour drive I doubt these guys would really commute by car much. Don’t they normally spring for airfare? I can’t imagine MLB players who get so few days off would spend 6 hours driving back and forth from their team’s city to their home town. Their free time is way too valuable to waste it driving for hours on end.
Cincy is 100 miles away. It is categorically closer than any option.
I think he means more for the family close to him more so than him being able to travel home.
Sure, everyone wants to play near their home town, I get it. But, when it comes down to it, it’ll be the team that offers Webb the largest contract. Book it.
Look at Lackey. He supposedly wanted to stay on the West Coast but the Sox offered him a great contract and he took it. Being close(er) to your family is one thing. Getting the almighty dollar to support your family is another.
Should be interesting next offseason…who will be the A-1 pitching FA? Lee or Webb? Webb’s a bit younger, better overall track record but the shoulder is a concern…and everyone’s still wondering if the Cliff Lee bubble is ever going to burst (doubt it).
Gee, lock-up an (as of now) iffy aging Webb, or save it to lock-up Justin Upton? Seems to be a no-brainer. Of course, this includes praying like hell that Parker regains form after his Tommy John.
Wow.. it seems like he lives near some crappy teams. If he wants to win, he wont play near his home, at least not driving distance…
Webb is a Top 5 pitcher in the league when healthy.. He IS healthy and will report to Spring Training with no limitations. Washington will offer 5 years/100M for Webb and don’t count out Boston, Both New Yorks and all the teams that have a problem keeping the ball in the yard. Webb has given up .54 HR’s a game in his career.. Once the Rangers get their ownership situation figured out, do you think the Rangers would like the premier sinker-baller in Arlington? Watch out for the Angels and Dodgers too. Webb loves AZ, loves his KY home, BUT… I think he goes anywhere! I would bet his agent meant Webb a “quiet superstar,” b/c he seems to have little ego, big stats, a charitable heart, and a calm demeanor. AZ probably has no chance to afford Webb unless they win the World Series.