Brandon Webb agreed to a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers on Sunday. The deal is worth a base value of three million dollars and has incentives that are rumored to reach eight to ten million dollars.
The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner has not pitched since April 6, 2009. He was placed on the disabled list the next day with shoulder bursitis, eventually getting shoulder surgery in August of 2009 after an unsuccessful rehab. After a throwing session in March, Webb told the Arizona Republic, "I was letting it go almost all the way. I felt like I had more left in the tank, even. It was good, really good.” Webb did not pitch after that positive report, so we will have to wait to see how “good” he feels during Spring Training.
Last off-season, two pitchers with similar injury histories signed major league deals. Ben Sheets signed a one-year, ten million dollar deal with the Oakland Athletics. He went 4-9 with a 4.53 ERA before tearing a tendon in his elbow on July 19. Sheets suffered the same injury at the end of the 2008 season. Sheets is not sure if the second surgery will end his career, but he told the San Francisco Chronicle that he will wait for “My arm will tell me.”
Rich Harden signed a one year, 6.5 million dollar deal with the Texas Rangers. He suffered a muscle strain on June 11 and did not return to the mound until July 31. Harden finished the season with a 5-5 record and a 5.58 ERA. The Rangers released Harden after leaving him off of their post-season roster. The Athletics signed him to a one year deal last week. Because of durability issues, it is believed he will be a reliever this upcoming season.
If Webb pitches like he did from 2005-08, when he went 70-37 with a 3.23 ERA in 134 starts and 927 innings, he will be a bargain. If he performs poorly or does not pitch at all, the three million in guaranteed money will be easier for the Rangers to lose in comparison to the money they gave Harden last season or the money the Athletics gave to Sheets. Giving contracts to players coming off injuries is risky, but the Rangers made the right decision in giving Webb a low-base contract with incentives that will help his salary is he helps the team.
Interesting take on this.
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