The answer is still no: Webb not interested in extension

Brandon Webb informed reporters last month that he had no interest in signing an incentive-laden contract extension with the Diamondbacks, and yesterday he reiterated that point to Josh Byrnes in what the general manager called “a check-in meeting.” Byrnes and company obviously have reservations about exercising their $8.5 million option on Webb for 2010 after shoulder problems limited him to just one start before undergoing surgery in August, but it’s clear now that declining the option will all but end his Diamondbacks career once big-payroll teams have a chance to enter the bidding. There was quite a bit of speculation last month that the Diamondbacks weren’t planning to exercise the $8.5 million option, but Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic now reports that “managing general partner Ken Kendrick said last week the club has every intention of exercising the option.” Whatever the case, they have until five days after the World Series to make things official.