Rangers Signed Brandon Webb

The Rangers' search for additional help for the starting rotation might have come to an end.
According to a source, the team has reached a one-year deal with free-agent right-hander Brandon Webb . Neither general manager Jon Daniels nor manager Ron Washington was available for comment.

A deal with Webb, which is pending a physical that likely will come early this week, is full of potential and risk.
He's four years removed from winning the National League Cy Young Award and he was one of the top starters in the NL for a four-year period with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The risk comes because of Webb's shoulder. He hasn't pitched in a big league game since opening day of 2009. Webb had surgery on his shoulder in August 2009, a procedure performed by Rangers team doctor Keith Meister.

Webb, 31, made strides in his return this year and pitched in the instructional league. The Rangers, Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals were thought to be the most interested in signing him.

Webb, who is expected to be at full strength when the Rangers open spring training in February, figures to compete for a spot in a wide-open rotation. Aside from C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis, there are no other guaranteed starting spots for the reigning American League champions.

The top candidates for the other three spots figure to be Tommy Hunter, Derek Holland, Scott Feldman , Matt Harrison , Michael Kirkman and Webb. The Rangers also could move closer Neftali Feliz back into the rotation, which is where he started last spring.

Webb made at least 28 starts in each of his first six years with the Diamondbacks. He was an All-Star selection three-consecutive seasons and followed his Cy Young Award in 2006 with second-place finishes in 2007 and 2008. The workhorse also put together five consecutive seasons of at least 208 innings.
Anthony Andro