Chalk up another lost season for Brandon Webb.
The veteran right-hander hasn’t pitched in a major league game since Opening Day in 2009 due to chronic issues with his throwing shoulder and he’s no longer expected to break that streak here in 2011.
According to Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas, an MRI taken Wednesday on Webb’s right shoulder showed “changes” to his rotator cuff which might require a surgical procedure. He’s likely done for the year after throwing just 12 innings to the tune of a 9.75 ERA for the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate.
Webb won the National League Cy Young Award in 2006 with the Diamondbacks and earned MVP votes in 2007 and 2008. He agreed to a one-year, $3 million free agent contract with the Rangers this past winter that carried performance-based bonuses worth up to $4 million. The 32-year-old will almost certainly have to settle for a minor league deal if he wants to continue pitching next season.
