Published: August 02, 2009 12:45 pm      

Webb to undergo surgery Monday

ASHLAND — Arizona ace Brandon Webb’s season is officially over.

The right-hander will be undergoing surgery on Monday in Arlington, Texas to resolve problems with his right shoulder. Specialist Dr. Keith Meister, the Rangers’ team physician, will perform the operation, according to Webb’s father, Philip Webb.

Webb, 30, has gone through two extended periods of rest and strengthening exercises but has not been able to return to the mound. He has been sidelined since pitching on Opening Day back in April and feeling stiffness in his shoulder. The discomfort hasn’t gone away.

Webb, the 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner and the runner-up for the top pitching award the past two seasons, paid another visit to Meister this weekend.

Webb had hoped to return in September but the extended rest didn’t help and the surgery will finish his season. The recovery time for Webb will be determined after the operation is performed.

The Diamondbacks have to decide within five days after the end of the World Series whether to pick up Webb’s $8.5 million option for 2010 or pay a $2 million buyout.

“We’ve still got in the neighborhood of 100 days before we have to make that decision,” Arizona GM Josh Byrnes said last week. “He’s been tremendous pitcher for this organization and he’s obviously a tremendous person within the walls of the organization. We’re going to use all the information we can gather in the next 100 days or so to make the best decision.”

In the past six years, Webb has accumulated a record or 87-62 record with a 3.27 earned run average. During the past four years Webb’s average record was 17.5-9 while averaging more than 230 innings per season. Last year, he won 22 games with a 3.20 ERA