D-backs pick up 2010 option on Webb

Ace right-hander to earn $8.5 million next season

Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

PHOENIX -- In the end, the D-backs felt the risk of not picking up Brandon Webb's contract option for 2010 was greater than using more than 10 percent of their payroll on a pitcher coming off shoulder surgery.

The D-backs on Friday announced they were exercising the $8.5 million option rather than pay a $2 million buyout.

"There's risk in everything," D-backs GM Josh Byrnes said. "With the last three months I think some of the risk has been reduced because the surgery went well and Webby's really responded well. I think there's a lot of reward. I mean, you're talking about one of the best pitchers in baseball, so as we made that decision, in our mind, the reward was greater than the risk."

Heading into the 2009 season it seemed that picking up the option was a fait accompli, but Webb experienced discomfort in his shoulder during his Opening Day start against the Rockies, lasted just four innings and wound up missing the rest of the season.

Webb eventually underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Aug. 4. The procedure was deemed a success and while Webb has not begun a throwing program, according to doctors the D-backs talked to he is making good progress.

Both Webb and the team appear confident that he will be a full participant when Spring Training opens.

"I've worked hard since Aug. 4 and everything is going really good, the strength is back in there," Webb said. "Everything has been going great."

Webb will begin throwing next Wednesday and the plan is for him to throw four days lightly before shutting it down until he goes through his normal pre-Spring Training throwing program later this winter.

"I'm pretty sure it's going to feel good," Webb said.

As Webb continued to make progress after the surgery, it became more and more evident that the D-backs would exercise the option.