The Diamondbacks announced that they’ve traded right-hander Allen Webster to the Pirates in exchange for cash considerations. Webster was designated for assignment last week.
Webster, 26 in February, was once considered a consensus Top 100 prospect. The former 18th-round pick (Dodgers, 2008) has been involved in a pair of notable trades, first going to Boston from L.A. as part of the Adrian Gonzalez/Carl Crawford blockbuster and then being traded to the D-Backs last winter in the Wade Miley deal.
Webster displayed a penchant for strikeouts early in his minor league career but has struggled more recently, both at the upper levels of the minors and in the Major Leagues with Boston and Arizona. Control, in particular, has become a problem for Webster, who has averaged 4.9 walks per nine innings in parts of three big league seasons and walked more batters (20) than he struck out (17) in 31 innings with the D-Backs this year. All told, Webster has a 6.13 ERA in 120 1/3 big league innings.
When his prospect status was at its peak, Baseball America wrote that Webster showed the “best pure stuff of anyone in the Red Sox system,” praising a fastball that ranged from 93-98 mph with good sink as well as a plus changeup. BA noted, however, that while Webster’s “outrageous” stuff came with top-of-the-rotation potential, an inability to command his fastball and questions about his confidence were enough to wonder if he’d ever reach that ceiling.
Certainly, the Pirates will hope that realization is still possible, though Webster needn’t become more than a solid middle reliever for this to look like a shrewd pickup in hindsight. He’s out of minor league options, however, so he’ll need to stick with the Bucs out of camp next spring or again be exposed to waivers.
Neal Huntington trying to one-up the Jed Lowrie trade… or not.
Now hes gonna throw 200 IP over 2.83 ERA in 2016. Because.. Pirates.
Yup. Perfect get for them. Although he will be a pretty big challenge. Didn’t look like a major league pitcher most recently.
If any team can fix him, it’s Pittsburgh
Need to fix more than one thing in Webster. Loss of velocity and an infusion of guts on the mound, which is something tough to teach. He pitches scared. Hard to be successful when you can’t, or won’t pitch to the inner half of the plate and now that he can’t throw 95 even, when he once could hit 98? 99 and would SIT at 95? Pirates have their work cut out, though I do wish them well. His FB has a real natural sink, which made it hard to get loft on even if could make contact. A perfect candidate for successful pitcher when he had velocity.. Had he the guts to throw inside and stop hitters from diving over the plate.
Wish Pirate coaches luck fixing those 2, though pretty sure he’s out of options and they will have to outright him to the minors, then hope nobody else is thinking the same thing and lays a claim.
Sometimes prospects don’t make it. Webster is one of those guys.
What are cash considerations, Pirates will consider giving them cash? But seriously the amount is determined later somehow?
Pirates give up cash, usually a minor amount that’s pretty inconsequential
Good pickup
Nice grab by the Pirates. Was hoping the Phillies would snag him and give him a chance.
if they cant fix him, then hang it up