Brandon Webb's agent Jonathan Maurer said that he had two new teams contact him on Tuesday in regards to his client.

So now there's two mystery teams? "There's teams out there that are showing a lot of interest in Brandon Webb that haven't come out in the media, but I prefer to negotiate with the team, not through the media," said Maurer. But isn't announcing this on the radio essentially negotiating through the media? In any case, while the market appears to be heating up for Webb, it doesn't sound like he is necessarily close to making a decision.

John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the Reds haven't had any conversations about Brandon Webb recently.

So we can safely eliminate the Reds and Brewers as the "mystery" NL Central club. Since we already know the Cubs are interested, that leaves the Cardinals, Pirates and Astros as possibilities. None of them are unrealistic, though he could be a nice gamble for a team like the Pirates, who could conceivably ship him off to a contending team if he has a bounceback first half. However, the Rangers and Nationals remain the favorites for the free agent right-hander.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that they are not the "mystery team" involved on Brandon Webb.

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported Wednesday that there was an unidentified NL Central team that was making a late run at Webb, but it apparently isn't the Brewers. They appear content with Chris Narveson as their No. 5 starter. The Rangers and Nationals remain the front-runners for Webb, while the Cubs have reportedly fallen behind.

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, an unidentified team from the NL Central is attempting to make a late run at signing Brandon Webb.

Ah yes, the return of the mystery team. We've missed you. Crasnick reports that Webb is already several weeks along in the decision making progress, so this unidentified club may not have a realistic shot, anyway. Crasnick also adds that the Cubs have fallen behind the Rangers and Nationals for the free agent right-hander's services.

According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Rangers and Brandon Webb appear to be working toward a one-year deal.

Webb is expected to speak later Tuesday on the phone with manager Ron Washington and pitching coach Mike Maddux. The Nationals and Cubs have also expressed interest in the former Cy Young winner, but a source told Wilson that Webb wants to pitch for the Rangers. He wants only a one-year, incentive-laden deal in order to reestablish himself following shoulder problems. Texas isn't the best place to him to end up for his fantasy value, but as long as he's healthy, Webb can pitch anywhere.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, free agent Brandon Webb is expected to decide on a team by Tuesday evening.

The Rangers and Cubs have been his most aggressive suitors, but the Nationals were lurking around for a bit and any number of clubs could pop up and make an offer at the last minute. Webb, 31, missed all of the 2010 season and made just one start in 2009 because of chronic shoulder issues, but he is all healed now and hoping to get back to his ace-like ways.

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan has confirmed that Brandon Webb is not in Texas and has not met with Rangers officials.

A source told Sullivan on Tuesday morning that Webb was in the Arlington area and had met with both Rangers manager Ron Washington and Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux. But Washington is in New Orleans, Louisiana at the moment and informed Sullivan that he has no plans to meet with Webb anytime soon. The Rangers remain interested, but this one is far from nearing completion.

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, the Cubs and Rangers have "jumped ahead" of the Nationals in the running for Brandon Webb.

The Nats may be scaling back their spending. There are so few quality starting pitchers left on the open market and Webb is likely to command a decent-sized one-year contract. The 31-year-old hasn't pitched in a major league game since early 2009, but he was an ace just a few years back.

Brandon Webb is expected to reach agreement with a team in the "next couple of days," according to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse.

Webb has drawn serious interest from the Cubs, Rangers and Nationals thus far, but many more teams could hop aboard given the sad state of the free agent starting pitching market. The 31-year-old right-hander carries a ton of risk because of his recent shoulder issues, but handing him an incentive-laden contract with a low base salary would be a fine low-risk move.

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, the Nationals are still heavily interested in free agent right-hander Brandon Webb.

Webb seems content with waiting until most of the other free agent pitchers are off the board. It will help drive up his price as clubs get desperate in their hunts for starting rotation depth. The big righty hasn't pitched in a major league game since the start of the 2009 season, but his shoulder is said to be healed and he's not a terrible low-risk, high-reward type of guy.

According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, Brandon Webb remains the Cubs' No. 1 target.

The Cubs reportedly met with Webb's agent Jonathan Maurer during this week's winter meetings in Orlando. They still have to check out his medical records -- which shouldn't be overlooked -- but his surgically-repaired shoulder hasn't shied them away until this point. Webb will undoubtedly have to settle for an incentive-laden deal this winter, but he'll probably end up signing with whoever gives him the largest guarantee.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met with Brandon Webb's agent Jonathan Maurer earlier this week.

The Nationals believe Webb is healthy. The right-handed Webb hasn't thrown a pitch since the first week of the 2009 season because of chronic shoulder issues, but the former Cy Young winner is a big rebound candidate if physically sound. Washington looks like a nice fit for him on an incentive-laden one-year contract.

Brandon Webb's arm surgeron is at winter meetings assuring teams that Webb will perform "at a high level" this coming season.

Interesting tactic by Webb and his agent and it's probably money well spent. The right-handed Webb hasn't thrown a pitch since the first week of the 2009 season because of chronic shoulder issues, but he has had enough past success to find a one-year deal packed with incentives. Clubs are rightly viewing him as a low-risk, high-reward free agent option and it'll be interesting to see what kind of deal his agent secures.

The Cubs are meeting with Brandon Webb's agent Tuesday afternoon.

The chat will take place down at MLB's Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida. The Rangers met Monday with Webb's agent and the Nationals are also expected to throw their hat in the ring at some point this week. The right-handed Webb hasn't thrown a pitch since the first week of the 2009 season because of chronic shoulder issues, but he has enough interest and had enough past success to finagle a one-year contract packed with incentives.

The Rangers met Monday with Brandon Webb's agent.

The Cubs and Nationals also have heavy interest in the rehabilitated right-hander. Webb hasn't thrown a pitch in a MLB game since the first week of the 2009 season, but he was dominant in his prime and clubs are viewing him as a low-risk, high-reward free agent option. He should eventually agree to an incentive-laden one-year contract with a low base salary.

According to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick, the Cubs, Nationals and Rangers remain interested in Brandon Webb.

Talks between Webb and the Pirates, meanwhile, have grown cold. The right-hander is not exactly in the position to be making high demands because he hasn't pitched in a major league game since early 2009, but enough clubs are interested and he seems likely to find a semi-lucrative one-year contract. Things should heat up at this week's Winter Meetings.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have not been in touch with Brandon Webb since late November.

They could always choose to rehash talks during this week's Winter Meetings, but Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette doesn't seem to think that the Bucs will. Webb has drawn interest from several clubs despite his inactivity since the first week of the 2009 season. For what it's worth, he did show improved velocity in early November throwing sessions.

The Pirates are focusing on adding pitching at the winter meetings.

Pittsburgh has about $15 million to spend on free agents and four open spots on their 40-man roster, so they are likely looking to add a free agent or two and a prospect through the Rule 5 draft, which takes place on Thursday morning. The Pirates appear to be targeting low-risk, high-reward starters -- such as Jeff Francis, Brandon Webb, Justin Duchscherer and Chris Young -- who are coming off injuries.

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports that the Cubs and Nationals "are stepping up" their pursuit of free agent right-hander Brandon Webb.

Other teams have expressed interest, but the Nats and Cubs are both being aggressive and have the resources to get a deal done. Webb hasn't pitched in a major league game since the first week of the 2009 season because of shoulder issues, but he's displayed improved velocity in recent throwing sessions. He should be able to score an incentive-laden one-year deal.

Brandon Webb's agent told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that his client would love to pitch for the Pirates next season.

"The Pirates are an organization that Brandon and I have a lot of respect for, especially for the GM," agent Jonathan Maurer said, referring to Bucs general manager Neal Huntington. "But they're also one of a number of teams that are interested." As with most free agents, Webb is going to sign where he finds the most lucrative contract. He should come cheap, but the Pirates have been outbid in the past and could always miss the boat again. The Cubs, Nationals and Rockies have expressed interest in Webb thus far.