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It was first reported a week ago that the Chicago Cubs signed former second overall pick Danny Hultzen and made official yesterday, but the front office isn’t done giving pitchers a second chance at a major-league career. The Cubs have added Allen Webster as well, inking him to a minor-league deal according to Chris Cotillo.
Danny Hultzen isn't the only lottery ticket for the Cubs this spring. They've added righty Allen Webster (of LAD-BOS trade fame) on a minor-league deal.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) March 2, 2018
The 28-year-old, right-handed pitcher hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2015, when he played for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Webster was drafted way back in 2008, by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 18th round. He made his debut in 2013, with the Boston Red Sox.
As mentioned above by Cotillo, Webster was part of the 2012 blockbuster trade between the Dodgers and Red Sox that involved Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto plus some cash going to Los Angeles. Webster was a top prospect at the time, ranked fourth best in Boston’s farm system and 71st overall by MLB.com prior to the 2013 season.
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Unfortunately for Webster, he didn’t have much success at the MLB level. He made eight appearances in 2013, going back and forth from Boston to the minors. Webster made 11 starts in 2014, striking out 36, walking 28 and recording a 5.03 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP in 59 innings. Boston traded him to Arizona, where Webster only made five starts and nine total appearances in 2015, before he was designated for assignment after the season.
Webster spent some time playing in Korea in 2016, and was then picked up by the Texas Rangers. Last year in Triple-A, Webster’s struggles continued, posting a 6.79 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in 58.1 innings.
By those numbers you have to wonder what the Cubs see in Webster, but the intriguing thing is this front office was trying to trade for him in 2012.
Here’s where the interesting Kyle Hendricks connection comes in.
So, when you go back to 2012, the Cubs traded starting pitcher Ryan Dempster to the Rangers. In return, the Cubs received Christian Villanueva and Kyle Hendricks. That would have never happened if the Dodgers wouldn’t have been so concerned about trading Webster for Dempster.
Here’s what Jon Heyman wrote in 2012 about the trade talks between the Cubs and Dodgers involving Dempster and Webster.
The Cubs offered to send Ryan Dempster to his preferred Dodgers straight up for solid right-handed pitching prospect Allen Webster, but the Dodgers have rejected the offer.
The issue seems to be this: The Dodgers don’t appear to love Dempster quite as much as he loves them.
According to people briefed on the talks, the Dodgers have thus far offered a couple of lesser prospects, guys who may project as relievers.
The Cubs really wanted Webster in 2012, but once the Dodgers refused, they moved on to other suitors. Also keep in mind that before the eventual trade with the Rangers, the Cubs and Atlanta Braves agreed to a deal for Dempster, but he didn’t approve the trade and was eventually dealt to Texas a week later.
So, can you imagine if Los Angeles loved Dempster more at the time? The Cubs would have had Webster instead of Hendricks.
You know what, let’s not try to imagine that and simply hope Webster can figure it out now that he’s in the Cubs organization.
