Webb Reportedly Will Not Restructure Option for Arizona

One of the big stories of the early offseason in 2009 is going to be Brandon Webb's 2010 option. The Diamondbacks hold a team option on their ailing ace worth $8.5 million and they're understandably a little hesitant to pay such a steep price for a pitcher coming off of a shoulder injury, even if that pitcher is Brandon Webb.

In that vein, the Arizona Republic reported Tuesday that the D'backs are planning on approaching Webb about restructuring his contract. Of course, in the same story it was reported that Webb has absolutely no interest in any sort of contract restructuring of his deal. That means the D'backs have until shortly after the World Series to figure out what they're going to do with their ace.

Because Webb finished in the top five in Cy Young voting in 2006, 2007, and 2008, the buyout on the option is a hefty $2 million. The Diamondbacks haven't indicated what they want to do, but it's hard to imagine them paying Webb $2 million to stay away unless the questions about his shoulder (he did have surgery on it, but it was just a scope and it didn't reveal anything terrible) are more serious than we realize.

Webb's refusal to restructure is probably just a bet on his part that the Diamondbacks will be willing to pay him because of the price of the buyout. Of course, if Arizona refuses he'll start the winter with $2 million in his pocket, which means that he doesn't have to worry about someone matching his option price on the open market. For him, refusing the option just seems to make the most business sense.