Comments on: At What Point Is Too Much With Howard?

By: From Section 113

From Section 113 — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:27:01 +0000

Bruce totally disagree. Now knowing his arb. number, he’ll want 8-10 yrs $150-$180, no less.

By: KM

KM — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:51:11 +0000

He already costs too much . . .

By: Spike Rogan

Spike Rogan — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:47:30 +0000

Let’s be real dude!

While 25million is a ton compared to how cheap the Phillies are with the rest of their roster. (And the cities teams overall are cheap, ala keep McNabb. New QB that is better would cost more!)

BUT the Phillies get 1,000% times more from Howard at 25 million than the Yankees do at the guys they paid top cash for this offseason.

I mean CC got a fat contract for his past that he doubtfully will ever do again!

Either we have a salary cap or we don’t. And it is the latter! So let’s not be cheap like the Eagles, lets have the best of the best! Not the lame of the rest!

Prince is a train wreck and not going to last long in the NL having to play at first to bat.

He’s a Mo Vaughn, Big Pappi at best!

Howard may not be Kruck or Rose at first. But he can play well.

Oh and BTW Utley will be worth a TON! He should make no less that 15 mill a season for what he brings!

By: Evan

Evan — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:49:52 +0000

You can’t talk about getting rid of Howard the year after winning the World Series. Can the Phils win the division without him? If the Phils do win the NL East again can you justify not signing one of the biggest pieces of the offense?

He wants too much money, but I can’t imagine letting Howard go. Its a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. We’ll see how it plays out, but the management is going to have to convince the city that Howard needs to go if they trade him. The only way the Phils get off easy is if Howard has an awful year, which could be worse for the franchise than signing or trading him.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:11:41 +0000

Don’t worry Gavin, you are in the majority with other fans in your assessment of Howard’s worth to the team.

By: Brooks

Brooks — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:58:26 +0000

Gavan, you are right on the money. Take Howard out of the present equation and what are the Phillies? Good team. With a healthy Ryan Howard, hopefully with a presentable (say .275 or more..) BA, this team is about to turn great. The possibility of having 3 MVP caliber players on the team at the same time, in the same infield and having a CY candidate – Think of it people, for years to come, this team could be at the golden grail again and again.

5 year/110 seems steep but it would probably do the trick.

By: IRONPIGPEN

IRONPIGPEN — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:15:03 +0000

Howard does strikeout alot. He doesn’t have the greatest average. He does hit shitloads of homeruns. And, if guys are on base, drive in shitloads of runs.

His value is determined by the type of team you’re trying to build.

I believe the Phillies should give him tons and nail him down for at least the prime years of his career.

If the Phillies do not wish to give him tons, some other team will…

By: Gavin

Gavin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:23:17 +0000

He’s the face of the franchise, he’s shown he can carry the team, and he is the type of player we’d all be dying for if he were elsewhere. The Phillies should offer him 5 years, 110 million. I dont think he’d turn it down. I dont want to hear all the whining when he goes elsewhere and wins MVP’s for someone else. I know he drives you and me crazy with all the K’s and his huge slumps the last few years, but we need him in the lineup.

Go ahead and fire away.

By: Mike B.

Mike B. — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:18:43 +0000

I already thought $10 M was too much for a guy who doesn’t hit for average, but I know that won’t happen. So for argument’s sake, I’ll say $12 M – $14 M. Maybe Howard feels he’s owed all this money for the time he spent in the minor leagues and his meteoric rise in the majors – ROY in 2005, MVP in 2006. Or he feels that he should get more for having to put up with us “boorish Philly fans” and all that crap because they’d never treat him like that at home in St. Louis, blah, blah, blah. I’d pay him $18 M if he could at least keep his average respectable (.275), cut the Ks (150), and if he at least played respectable defense. But we all know that none of that will happen.

And the A-Rod contract is ridiculous. The money is inflated, but A-Rod has a better skill set than Howard because he hits for average, power, can play SS and 3B, has speed, and plays defense (except for in October). Therefore he’ll get a bigger contract. Ryan Howard, don’t you dare even ask for an A-Rod-esque contract unless your second in steals behind J-Roll, win a gold glove, hit .300, and play second while Utley is out. Don’t you dare.

By: Howard

Howard — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:00:52 +0000

Depending on how much more Mr. Howard is offered vs. what he think he’s valued as, maybe it’s time to cut our losses and see what we can get for him. However, I would definitely trade him to an American League team. He reminds me of Greg Luzinski at the plate. He’s either going to light it up or create gale force winds.

By: psujoe

psujoe — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:27:08 +0000

If we can have Howard one more year for 15 million then keep him and trade him next year. I love Youkilis, but I doubt the Sox would’ve parted with him in a package.

By: Don M

Don M — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:25:06 +0000

If its $12 M – $15M.. and they can’t settle….. I think the Phillies will win at $12M

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:11:47 +0000

Bruce…Howard was offered Chase Utleys contract parameters and said that it was an insult…If this starts to get out of hand then theyll have to just move on. i am VERY interested to see what he asks for…

By: Don M

Don M — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:03:09 +0000

If the Phillies make an offer of $12 M they have a shot to win… Howard will probably ask $15 M… I seriously doubt that Howard (who wants $20+ M per season) would have signed that deal for $30M/3yrs

If he has another good season this year, he’ll be around $10M, $12M, $15M… he knows it, his family knows it, and his agent(s) know it.. he’ll go year to year, make a fortune, and then sign a nice 3-4 year deal to be a DH when he becomes a Free Agent..

By: Bruce

Bruce — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:49:50 +0000

If the Phillies had the foresight to sign Howard to a multi-year contract last year ($30M/3yr… using the awarded $10M as guide), they could have save a ton of money in arbitration for every year he’s eligible.

It’still not too late to seriously negotiate with Howard on a multi-year contract before his price becomes much too exorbitant. With the loss of the righthanded power in Burrell, the Phillies can’t afford to lose Howard.

By: Richie Allen

Richie Allen — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:40:35 +0000

So far, Amaro is doing a great job……I dont know what he has in mind for Howard,but I’m really beginning to think that Gillick was a good mentor.
I think Amaro will have the team in mind as he deals with Howard,so I’m not that concerned,yet.
We have Howard for this year,but after that I think he’ll be gonzo,tradebait.The money will be beyond the point of his value to us.
I wish this era of free agency (for the best players)=contract with the Yankees or Red sox would stop…Maybe its time for a true salary cap.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:28:13 +0000

My thing is that you can’t replace all the power in the lineup. Who cares about all the other stuff. I hope the Phillies suck it up and at least keep him through the arbitration years maybe trading him before the last year. Howard also has to keep hitting around 50 homers and 140 rbis to keep his arbitration numbers going up to crazy numbers. So if he continutes to get close to those run producing numbers he’s worth every penny. Taking arbitration at least means the Phillies can prove they’ll spend money, but the risk is less because its only year to year and they can trade him at any point.

By: Richie

Richie — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:03:05 +0000

Howard is not going anywhere for atleast this year. Amaro would get crucified for dealing that much offense after winning a world series. We need to see if this team can repeat or get somewhere close. If not, he will be dealt at the next winter meetings given he doesnt put together a campaign similar to circa 2006.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:55:14 +0000

why would u shop blanton… if im not mistaken he didnt lose a single game for us last yr

By: Eb

Eb — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:53:12 +0000

I like the idea of sending howard to the AL. ALso Sheets would be a great pick up but I would shop Blanton if we get Sheets. That way HApp and Carascco have some room