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Brandon Webb’s $8.5 million option was exercised yesterday by the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team counting on the former Cy Young winner coming back successfully from shoulder surgery.
The 30-year-old righthander was the team’s Opening Day pitcher last season, giving up six runs in four innings, then did not take the mound again the rest of the year, eventually undergoing surgery on his pitching shoulder Aug. 4.
Arizona would have had to pay a $2 million buyout if it had declined the option.
“He’s worked very hard since the surgery,’’ general manager Josh Byrnes said, “and we’re confident that he’ll return to be a very healthy, effective pitcher.’’
A three-time All-Star, Webb won the 2006 NL Cy Young Award and was second in voting the next two years. He is 87-62 with a 3.27 ERA in seven seasons. He ranks second in franchise history to Randy Johnson in wins, starts (198), innings pitched (1,319 2/3), and strikeouts (1,065). Webb’s 15 complete games rank behind Johnson and Curt Schilling for Arizona.
Webb said he knew that the Diamondbacks picking up the option “was up in the air I think for a while and rightfully so.’’
The successful surgery and subsequent good reports on rehabilitation had made it probable that the team would pick up the option.
“We did want to use the time we had but once we got out of the surgery all signs had been positive,’’ Byrnes said.
Ramirez had until Tuesday to inform the cash-strapped Dodgers if he intended to void the second year of a two-year, $45-million contract he signed in the spring - something that was viewed as highly unlikely because of the kind of year Ramirez had.
Although Ramirez just completed a season in which he was suspended 50 games for violating baseball’s drug policy and had a significant dip in form, general manager Ned Colletti said he was pleased that Ramirez would be back.
“There was no doubt he had his struggles this past season,’’ he said. “We still feel that he’s a very good hitter and maybe with a winter off and a chance to regroup, he can come back with a better frame of mind and his confidence rebuilt.’’
In the 27 games before his suspension, Ramirez hit .348 with 6 home runs, and 20 RBIs. In 77 regular-season games after his return, he hit .269 with 13 home runs, and 43 RBIs. He batted .281 with a home run and two RBIs in the Dodgers’ eight postseason games.
