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Webb not interested in incentive-laden deal
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Brandon Webb
Ralph Freso
Brandon Webb has a message for the Arizona Diamondbacks: Either they pick up his $8.5 million option for next season or he'll become a free agent.
Webb, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in August, said Tuesday that he has no interest in signing an incentive-laden deal that would be based on innings, starts or days on the active roster.
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"I've got to go out and see what's best for me," said Webb, who started on opening day, then was sidelined for the season. "I think I can get (the $8.5 million) anywhere I want."
Webb's preference is to remain with the Diamondbacks. But he believes the club should show some faith in him after what he's done for the organization: 56 wins the last three years with a Cy Young Award and two second-place finishes on his resumé.
"I think I've proven myself," Webb said. "I feel like I've done a lot here. Hopefully they'll pick up (the deal) for one year and we'll go from there."
D-Backs general manager Josh Byrnes declined to comment about the negotiations.
The Diamondbacks, who must decide what to do with Webb within five days after the World Series ends, have three options: They can buy out the contract for $2 million, pick up the $8.5 million option or try to rework the deal.
Webb, 30, believes he can get at least $8.5 million on the open market in part because of the contract John Smoltz received in the offseason. Smoltz was 41 and coming off reconstructive shoulder surgery, yet the Boston Red Sox signed him to a one-year, $5.5 million deal.
"He's got a little bit of age on me and my surgery wasn't even close to his," Webb said.
Manager A.J. Hinch said Webb has earned the right for the organization to "err on his side." And while acknowledging Webb's health will still be an unknown come November, he made it clear he'd like to have Webb back.
"If Brandon Webb is healthy, why wouldn't we want him?" Hinch said. "I think it would be a huge advantage for us to have a healthy Webb on the team. He would be a major boost in everything from morale to belief in what we can become and just a will to win every time he's on the mound."
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