Brandon Webb (shoulder) will have a bullpen session Sunday.

It's a big step, as it will be the first time he's thrown off a mound for the Rangers. The team has been encouraged with the right-hander's progress, but we can't be sure how he's really feeling until he shows what he can do on the bump. The Rangers are hoping that Webb will be ready for Opening Day.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) will have a long-toss session Saturday for the second straight day before the Rangers make a decision Sunday on whether he's ready to return to a mound.

Webb has been limited all camp to throwing off flat ground as he tried to build up shoulder strength following basically two full lost seasons. The Rangers, at least publicly, like how the right-hander is progressing, but he's obviously still got a lot of work to do.

Brandon Webb could return to throwing bullpen sessions early next week, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney.

The Rangers like the progress Webb is making. He played long-toss on Thursday. The 31-year-old is trying to win a spot in Texas' regular season starting rotation and may be worth a late-round pick in deep mixed fantasy drafts. Monitor his health before pulling the trigger.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) played long-toss on Thursday.

Webb is scheduled for another day of long-toss on Friday after which he will be reevaluated. He hopes to throw off a mound by as soon as Sunday.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) is aiming to throw off a mound by Sunday or Monday.

The veteran right-hander threw long toss from over 200 feet on Tuesday. He is expected to take it easy Wednesday, then throw from a long distance again on Thursday and Friday to continue building strength in his oft-injured shoulder. Webb will rest on Saturday, then it may be time for him to get back on a mound. This plan, of course, is subject to change.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) played long toss from more than 200 feet Tuesday.

The Rangers are keeping Webb away from a mound for now because they are worried about the strength of his shoulder, but playing catch from 200 feet is a great sign that progress is being made. The 31-year-old is trying to win a spot in Texas' regular season starting rotation.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) threw long toss on Monday morning in Rangers camp.

The Rangers decided this weekend to keep Webb off a mound until his surgically-repaired right shoulder gains more strength. "It's just precautionary to make sure I'm not going to hurt myself," said the new Rangers starter. "I don't think I'll be set back too far. I threw 50 or 60 pitches off a mound before I got here and felt fine." He is still probably questionable for Opening Day.

Brandon Webb said his arm feels great and he's had good life on the ball while in camp.

The Rangers are taking things slow with Webb. Pitching coach Mike Maddux said the goal is to build up Webb's arm strength so he can get back on the mound and throw bullpen sessions, though he didn't have a timetable for when that would be. Webb played catch Sunday after a heavy long toss session on Saturday.

Brandon Webb reported feeling "normal" soreness in his arm after a Thursday bullpen session.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, the 31-year-old righty sounded "upbeat" about the way things have progressed this winter and spring. Webb hasn't pitched in a big league game since the start of the 2009 season and still faces quite the uphill battle, but he may be worth a late-round pick in deep mixed fantasy drafts.

Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux said the team will be taking a "cautiously aggressive" approach with Brandon Webb (shoulder) during spring training.

The right-hander will throw off the mound once every three days. At this early stage, he still has a shot to be a part of the Opening Day rotation, but the Rangers don't want him to overextend himself like he did last year. The former Cy Young winner is certainly an intriguing flier in fantasy, but it's tough to know what to expect from a guy that's made one start over the last two seasons.

Brandon Webb (shoulder) said Wednesday that he feels it's "realistic" that he could be ready for Opening Day.

Webb added that he threw three bullpen sessions late in the offseason and received positive feedback. Being ready for the start of the season remains the goal, but the Rangers have cautioned him not to rush things like he did last season. The 31-year-old right-hander hasn't pitched in the big leagues since Opening Day of the 2009 season due to shoulder problems.

During an appearance on ESPN 103.3 in Dallas on Wednesday, Brandon Webb said that he doesn't expect to have any restrictions going into spring training.

"I've made some dramatic strides," said Webb. "If anybody had been around me for the past month or so since I've been throwing, it's been awesome. I don't think they have to be too patient. I think I should be totally ready to go in spring training, jumping right in with the guys and just carrying on like a normal spring training for myself." We love Webb's enthusiasm, but it's almost impossible to know what kind of pitcher he will be until spring training begins. Fortunately, most fantasy owners can afford to wait and see.

According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, Brandon Webb could earn as much as $8 million if he stays on the active roster for the entire season and pitches 210 innings.

Webb will earn a $3 million base salary in 2011 and could earn an additional $4 million based on benchmarks ranging from 100-210 innings pitched. He could earn another $1 million should he remain on the active roster for a total of 160 days. Of course, Webb hasn't thrown a pitch in the big leagues since Opening Day of the 2009 season, so let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Brandon Webb said Monday that he hopes to be ready for Opening Day, but won't rush back.

"I set timetables last year and it was a little bit unrealistic," said Webb, who officially signed with the Rangers on Monday. "I sure hope I'm going to be ready full go. To be there Opening Day, that's my goal for sure. That's very reachable, but I have to see how things go." We won't know a lot about Webb's readiness for the season until spring training begins, so fantasy owners should wait and see for now.

Rangers signed RHP Brandon Webb to a one-year, $3 million contract.

Webb can also earn another several million in performance-based incentives. He hasn't thrown a pitch in a major league game since the first week of the 2009 season, but the sinkerballer was one of baseball's best starters only a few years ago and the Rangers are hoping he can recapture some of that magic. Webb is likely to open 2011 as Texas' fourth or fifth starter.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, Brandon Webb's new contract with the Rangers is worth $3 million in base salary.

Webb has the potential to earn another couple million via performance-based incentives. He agreed to the one-year contract with Texas on Sunday night and is likely to serve as the club's fourth or fifth starter in 2011. The 31-year-old right-hander hasn't pitched in a major league game since the first week of the 2009 season and he did not show good velocity during a few practice sessions at the end of 2010, but the Rangers will hope he can right the ship by the time spring training opens in late February.

Brandon Webb has reached a contract agreement with the Rangers, according to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse.

Webb's agent Jonathan Maurer declined to comment on the report. The 31-year-old won the Cy Young in 2006 and produced a 3.30 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 34 starts in 2008. His career derailed shortly thereafter, with shoulder problems limiting him to four innings over the last two seasons. Even so, Webb is a great low-risk signing by the Rangers, who lost staff ace Cliff Lee to the Phillies. Webb will likely be Texas' fourth starter. Contract terms have not yet been released. Texas beat out the Reds, Yankees, Rangers, Cubs and Nationals for Webb's services.

Free agent starter Brandon Webb will likely decide between the Rangers and the Reds, according to FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal.

Our NL Central "mystery team" has been identified. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last week that the Reds hadn't spoken with Webb recently, but the club has apparently emerged as a Webb finalist. The former Cy Young winner has pitched just four innings the last two seasons due to shoulder problems. If he's completely healthy, however, Webb will be a good low-risk signing and relevant in all fantasy formats.

The Cubs and Nationals are out on free agent starter Brandon Webb, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.

Start reports that Webb will decide between the Rangers and an NL Central "mystery team." With regards to the mystery team, the Reds and Brewers seem like unlikely destinations and the Pirates haven't spoken to Webb in months. Webb, 31, missed all of the 2010 season and made just one start in 2009 because of chronic shoulder issues.

According to George A. King III of the New York Post, the Yankees are monitoring Brandon Webb.

They must be one of the two "mystery teams" Webb's agent has talked about. King says there have been reports that Webb had a visit to New York planned for this week, but that appears not to be the case, as they're not "in a hurry to do anything" with the former Cy Young winner. More interestingly, King writes that one organization that is not interested in Webb, who has made just one start the last two years due to shoulder woes, thinks he might not be ready to pitch until July. The Yanks also have feelers out on Jeff Francis and Freddy Garcia.