Free Agent Stock Watch: Brandon Webb

The Athletics guaranteed $10MM to Ben Sheets in January even though he'd missed the entire 2009 season due to elbow surgery.  The signing was not a success, but Sheets' upside must have been tantalizing for the A's.  This winter, free agent Brandon Webb presents a more exaggerated risk/reward scenario for teams.  Webb is two years removed from the Majors due to shoulder surgery, but his agent Jonathan Maurer still considers Sheets' deal a "conversation starter."  Webb missed more time than Sheets, but Maurer's client finished first or second in the Cy Young voting each year from 2006 to '08. Today Maurer provided MLBTR details about Webb's September/October instructional games, and also said he expects 30+ starts from his client in 2011: Brandon pitched for the first time competitively (in 17 months) in September and October in three instructional games. The first game, Webb threw 80% and was 78-80 mph. The second game Webb was closer to 90%...