Does Ryan Howard have the third-worst contract in baseball?
Grantland's Jonah Keri breaks down the 15 worst contracts in baseball, and Ryan Howard is in the Top 5.
Does Ryan Howard have the third-worst contract in baseball?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
I recently received an email from a reader who believes that I criticize Ryan Howard's five-year, $125 million contract too frequently on this blog. While I clearly disagree with the reader, I am sensitive to any perception that I am disproportionately critical about a player. So, naturally, Grantland.com decides that today is a good day to publish Jonah Keri's list of the 15 worst contracts in baseball, a list that ranks Howard's deal as the third worst in baseball, trailing only Alex Rodriguez and Carl Crawford.
Keri's 15:
- Alex Rodriguez
- Carl Crawford
- Ryan Howard
- Jayson Werth
- Vernon Wells
- Barry Zito
- John Lackey
- Juan Uribe
- Brian Roberts
- Johan Santana
- John Danks
- Adam Dunn
- Brandon League
- Adrian Gonzalez
- Albert Pujols
On a positive note, I think I'd rather have Howard's contract on my books than that of Wells or Lackey. And the Phillies aren't the only team who, according to Keri, overpaid for a first baseman. In fact, four of the 15 players on the list are first basemen.
Keri gives Jonathan Papelbon's deal an honorable mention. I'd agree with that designation as well.
What say you?
Comments (84)
If Ryan can get back to 100 RBI or so, then his contract is in line. Don't forget he had a horrific injury. If he was a bit older, he'd have never come back. Last year was a mulligan. Let's see how he does this year. Would be better however if we had a nice RH in front of him...— Poppys- howard third? he was injured last year and that was the first of a 5 yr extension. he's also had more rbi than pulhols. and prince albert has a what? 10 year contract? and isn't much older or younger than howard and he's at 15? and what makes this article the biggest joke is not only who he left off but having the hall of famer werth listed behind howard. he has never even driven in a 100 rbi in his career and probably never will. if fielder blows out a knee he's gonna shoot right to the top and howard if healthy over the next few yrs will look like a bargain and rube will look like a genius for extending him. if not rube will look like rube. lol— Ryne Duren
- That Howard deal is awful. The thing that hurts more is it didn't need to be made. He still had two years left on his previous contract.— HulkHogan
- I still can't understand how Howard remains at the four spot in the lineup with his poor production. A 220 hitter who strikes out 30% of the time should not be the cleanup hitter. I suppose it would be too much of a blow to his ego to drop the $25 million dollar man down in the lineup!— fanup
- My boss asked me if I would accept 125 million over 5 years. I told him. "Who do you think I am, Ryan Howard?" I wouldn't have the guts to tell the general public I am making 25 million a year and think it's the third worst contract. Howard didn't of course, and that at least shows good sense.— Ron
The simple truth is this; The system basebal has created, combined with virtuallyALL teams spending WAY too long grooming top tier talent leaves them in this bind. Consider how many great players don't really gettheir 'every day shot' until they are 27,28 years old. Then they have the years of service issue, then arbitration eligibility. By the time they can get their first taste of big money, they are already too old to reasonably expect to get 6-8 years of big production. I almost always side with owners in any labor disputebecause THEY take all the financial risk, but this is not about money. This is about TIME. Owners and fans alike fret having too many 35 yr old players on a roster, but if nobody gives a 22 year old a chance then you have to fill your rosters with free agents, who by the very nature of the system, are too old for the contract you offer the day the sign it.- Howard's contract by far is the worst in baseball. A good year for him is half A-Rod's #. This contract should of gotten Amaro fired. I do not know what Amaro was thinking that late April day in 2010 when he signed Howard after that record setting strikeout performance in the '09 World Series. Howard has been done since '09 and that contract will haunt the Phillies for the next four years. It would have been nice to have left Howard lame on the basepath against the Giants as his old contract would have expired with the last out. Amaro needs to go...he has DESTROYED the farm system with his crappy trades and now he discreetly does not have the money to spend because CBP does not sell out anymore. Did we really need to trade two pitching prospectes for 5'7", 160lb, light hitting Ben Revere????— steved
- Don't get the article or opinion at all. Had Ryan Howard not gotten hurt, and had been producing the insane numbers he was producing in 2008, with another team, because the Phiilis decided not to resign him, then this entire article would have come under a different heading......"Worst Free Agents Decisions by the Phillies". See all this is hindsight, and for that the article is meaningless.— hawaiiphillyfan
- When you look at the list other than Pujols, and injury year last year aside, Howard has been more productive in terms of HR, RBI than any of the guys on the list over the time of the contract extension. And still produced RBI's near his career rate despite injury. I thought this article predicted bad production going forward from Howard and that was what bumped him up on this list. If he produces at a 30 / 120 season as he has settled into the last couple years he is still slightly overpaid but not top 15 worse contracts. The guys who consistently produce at that rate don't fall out of trees and get paid. You must score runs to win and he produces Runs. Whether you like his contact rate, OBP, or less than mediocre defense.— rhcjr2
- It should be ranked first, the worse contract in baseball considering the amount of strikeouts and the production against left handed pitchers. What you see is what you get. When you are in the league as long as Howard is and you still can't hit lefties, it is probably a safe bet that he will never be able to hit lefties or lay off the breaking ball outside and in the dirt. Just saying...— billro33
- Howard is worth about $10 million per year. In our park he should hit 50 HR, but I'm expecting 25 this year. He's an automatic out against LH pitching, so anytime the opposition needs an out, they hope Howard comes to the plate. Plus that, this year I predict a .220 BA.— 4thand10
- it still comes down to what the market will bear— SyddBarrett
- Howard's awful contract and declining ability are facts pretty much accepted by all but the most dishonest fans -- but I cannot allow to go unanswered the continued ignorance regarding Papelbum by imbeciles who rely only on the absurd almighty "save" stat...
here once again are Papelbum's Greatest Hits 2012 (plus many more in which he gave up runs):
5/7 vs. Mets 3 ER, Loss;
6/4 vs. LA 1 ER, Loss;
6/23 vs TB 2 ER, Blown save;
7/5 vs. Mets 2 ER, BLown save, Loss;
7/18 vs. LA 2 ER, Papelbon Blown save leading to loss;
7/21 vs SF 1 ER, Papelbon Loss;
8/21 vs Cinc. 1 er, Papelbon Loss;
9/2 vs. Atl, up 7-3 with 2 outs to go; 2 inherited runs score, 3 more earned runs, Blown save, Loss..season over
Papelbon was the worst signing of last winter (per a Stark poll of excecutives and many other commentators), despite padding his stats with easy saves in non-pressure situations against poor hitting teams -- he had 6 devastating losses and 4 blown saves that were as destructive and costly as anything else that wrecked the Phils season -- and there's really no worse reliever to see on the mound in an important spot the past few years than this one-dimensional loser-- after his pitch count exceeds 15 (which good teams can quickly get him to) opposing hitters hit way over .300 against him - he's not "elite" but rather a very unreliable loser for past many years— warbiscuit - Ryan has EARNED his money when compared to what has been paid to Votto and Pujols and Rodriquez.Let him play and shut-up!— philsfansince1946
- Howard's batting stance is terrible.
Try closing your right foot and then try to pull the ball to right field. Impossible....whenever he hits the ball the pitcher threw it outside..big mistake, he might pop out to left but hopefully drop in for a single— Lew Klein
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High Cheese is your place for the best Phillies coverage from the Daily News.
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