DownSwinging.com

While some teams are focused on clinching their playoff spots and aligning their rotation for the postseason, a good number of major league organizations have stopped thinking about 2009 and are focusing on next year and beyond. One team that has a big decision to make is the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that had a dissapointing season in a newly-revitalized division. The Diamondbacks are going to have to think carefully about Brandon Webb, their ace, who missed of this season and is expected to miss some of 2010. The Diamondbacks have a $8.5 million option on Webb, with a $2 million buyout. At this point, it’s pretty unclear what the team will do, but an Arizona Republic writer offers a suggestion.

In short, Piecoro suggests the Diamondbacks offer Webb a restructured 2-year deal where Webb makes $6.5 million guaranteed plus incentives the first year, and $3 million guaranteed the second year with incentives (from innings pitched) that could bump it up much higher.

It sounds like a good plan for the Diamondbacks, but there is no way Webb would take this deal if his main criteria is money. If Webb were to hit the free agent market, the immediate comparison that sprung to my mind (as well as Piecoro’s) is John Smoltz, who signed with the Red Sox for $5.5 million after undergoing surgery, much-like Webb.