Despite risks, SF Giants’ Webb excited to play for Team USA in World Baseball Classic

SAN RAMON — Logan Webb couldn’t hide his grin.

In the leadup to the World Baseball Classic, the Giants will welcome Webb and Team USA for an exhibition at Scottsdale Stadium. With nothing on the line, who better to face the likes of Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers and Bryce Eldridge than Webb?

That matchup won’t be in the cards. While Webb declined to say when he’s scheduled to pitch for Team USA, he did share that he won’t toe the slab against his teammates. Though it’s not for a lack of trying.

“I wanted to, though,” Webb said with a smile.

The Giants’ ace will cross off a bucket list item when he dons the red, white and blue and participates in the World Baseball Classic in March as the United States seeks its second title. Webb wanted to participate in 2023, but those plans fell through as he negotiated a five-year, $90 million extension.

Webb said he is trying to treat this offseason “as normal as possible,” though he’s aware of the incoming spike in adrenaline once the tournament starts. He plans to make several starts for the Giants when Cactus League play begins on Feb. 21 before Team USA begins tournament play in Houston on March 6.

For all of Webb’s excitement, the Giants aren’t exactly thrilled about their ace’s participation.

A two-time All-Star, Webb is the anchor of a rotation littered with question marks. The Giants inked right-handers Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser, but the team’s starting five current projects as one of the weaker units in the majors.

Webb has been one of baseball’s most durable starters over the last five seasons, but the competitive nature of the tournament will throw a wrench into his meticulous preseason ramp-up. When Webb takes the mound in front of a packed stadium with pride on the line, it will be nearly impossible to treat the game like a mere exhibition.

“Obviously, they had their thoughts about it,” Webb said. “I think that’s known, but at the end of the day, it’s my decision.”

“The way I see it, there’s definitely more risk for a pitcher than a position player,” said president of baseball operations Buster Posey in December. “(If you’re) playing in Miami against the Dominican (Republic) and there’s 40,000 people screaming, you’re going to have a hard time dialing it back in early March.”

Posey helped lead Team USA to a gold medal in 2017 and called the World Baseball Classic “one of my favorite events outside of Major League Baseball that I’ve ever played in my whole life.” Despite his admiration for the tournament, Posey’s primary goal is to construct a winning baseball team.

For Posey, the “perfect-case scenario” for pitchers is when they’re asked to participate later in their careers. Adam Wainwright played for Team USA in the final year of his career in 2023, and Clayton Kershaw will play for America this year despite retiring after last season.

One player who may have been impacted by the World Baseball Classic is former Giant Ryan Vogelsong. Vogelsong was an All-Star in 2011 and helped the Giants win a World Series in ‘12 before participating in the World Baseball Classic in ‘13. Following the tournament, Vogelsong had a 5.73 ERA over 19 starts.

That poor year was largely the product of Vogelsong injuring his right pinkie finger and missing more than two months, but Vogelsong questioned whether the tournament had any impact. Prior to the injury, a 35-year-old Vogelsong had a 7.19 ERA over his first nine starts.

“We’ve seen over the years that it can derail some pitchers,” Posey said. “There’s no way to replicate getting yourself ready for essentially a playoff game in early March. It’s just impossible.”

The United States’ roster features a who’s who of American talent, captained by three-time MVP Aaron Judge and featuring Bobby Witt Jr., Corbin Carroll and Cal Raleigh, among others. Webb will join a rotation featuring left-hander Tarrik Skubal and right-hander Paul Skenes, the reigning AL and NL Cy Young Award winners.

“Aaron Judge is probably the main guy I’m really excited to play with,” Webb said. “I was involved in a lot of the ‘Arson’ Judge situation, so I got to do the visit with him. I wanted to be his teammate then, and now I get to do it. We’ve texted back and forth a little bit. It’ll be fun to just watch a lot of these guys just take (batting practice), let alone play with.”

One American star who will not be participating is four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker, who recently signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Along with Tucker, the Dodgers signed three-time All-Star closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal to shore up the backend of their bullpen. In signing Díaz and Tucker, Los Angeles addressed two areas of weakness by throwing money at the top option on the market.

“Obviously, it’s not fun for me to watch the team that won it — and the team that kicked our (butt) a lot last year — get some really good players just to make it more difficult,” Webb said. “But, at the end of the day, you just have to play better.”