Howard's Ends
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Howard's Ends
Todd Zolecki
The Phillies met briefly yesterday with Casey Close, who is the agent for Ryan Howard and Joe Blanton.
"It was just to touch base," Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "There won't be any negotiations going on here. But we have several of [the agent's] arbitration-eligible guys."
Howard made a record $10 million in salary arbitration this year, and he deserved every penny. There has been speculation he could make anywhere between $16 to $18 million next year. The fact that he led the majors in home runs and RBIs this season certainly hasn't hurt his leverage at the bargaining table. But will the Phillies lock up Howard to a multi-year contract extension before the 2009 season? I doubt it. First, Howard can't become a free agent until after the 2011 season, so there is no rush. Second, Howard is looking for A-Rod money. I don't think the Phillies want to allocate that much money into one position. But when we're talking about Howard and the immediate future, I don't think the Phillies feel pressured to sign him to an extension because they do have three more years to talk to him. And because they know Howard isn't going anywhere, they have other issues they feel they need to address first to make sure they can repeat as World Series champions, namely, resigning Jamie Moyer and Scott Eyre and figuring out what to do in left field.
"We're going to start to have more sensitive discussions with both Scott and Jamie in the next few days," Amaro said. "But once we have negotiations, I'll be frank with you, we're going to be pretty quiet."
The Phillies have 10 players eligible for salary arbitration. In the past, the Phillies don't address those players until after they've address other issues. So if you don't hear names like Cole Hamels, Shane Victorino and Howard in the upcoming weeks, don't worry. The Phillies typically handle those contract situations in January and February. Ryan Madson and Jayson Werth are two players in that arbitration eligible group who can become free agents after the season, so they could be handled differently. But remember that Madson's agent is Scott Boras, and he almost always has his players test the open market.
Zo, Your nemesis, Murphy, is saying that the Phils are willing to discuss a trade for Rollins. What are you hearing? Do they think that Donald is that good and that ready to trade Rollins? Obviously he would bring us the needed Left Fielder— jeff gross- Ryan Madson thing really scares me. He is going to want some big money. I'll bet next year is the last year you see him in Phillies uniform.— Beef69
- let's see how he does next season. Remember, last year and teh first half of this year he was good, but not lights out. I hope he has a great year and can demand tons of cash. That means we'll have a great Pen again next year— jeff gross
- Rollins to SF Giants for Cain and Nate Schierholtz actually makes sense. I don't think the Phils would ever do it, but it makes sense. Then play Donald at short, your rotation is Hamels, Myers, Cain, Blanton, Moyer/Happ, and you have a possible stud in RF, move Werth to left. Makes sense AND saves money. Maybe the Phils would think about it.— RichNC
- Hamels, Myers, Blanton, Moyer, Kendrick, Happ, & Carrasco. 7 starters. 5 spots. Assuming Hamels and Blanton are in, Myers is staying in the rotation (aka not going to the bullpen), and we resign Moyer, that leaves 3 starters for one spot. I have to think that whoever we go with (Kendrick, Happ, or Carrasco) will leave the others as trade bait. I wonder what the front office is thinking there.— TK2575
- TK you are correct about 7 starters for 5 jobs, however you always want at least one starter in AAA who can fill a hole is someone is injured, goes into a tailspin (like Kenrick did this past Aug/Sept) That leaves Eaton as trade bait, and I think we'd have trouble giving him away given how he's pitched for us. Having said that, I don't think we'll be trading for a SP in the off-season— jeff gross
- Eaton as trade bait? I would not even use Eaton as crab bait. Bunker works a lot better.— Beef69
- How good does Holliday's name sound playing in left field next year?— Beef69
- Forget Eaton. Carasco will likely remain in the minors. Based on the fact that he wasn't even a September call up, it appears that they think he needs more time. Arbuckle was on with Missanelli in September and he said they didn't think Carasco was ready.— Gary Varsho
- Don't worry about Madson getting big money. Scott Boras always try to overvalue his clients. He is already comparing him to Mariano Rivera when he set up for Wettleland in NY. The Phillies control Madson for at least one more year, I think. And people know he is not Rivera. He has to prove that he as good as he was the second half of this season for a full season next year.— EL Zorro
- Gary, I agree. Our rotation is Hammels, Myers, Moyer, Blanton and either Kendrick or Happ with The other one in AAA as emergency call up. Trade bait can be, therefore, Carlos and Eaton. Between them we may get a minor league infielder and a bat boy— jeff gross
- I wouldn't worry about Rollins being trade. That was a blog post on another Web site. The Phillies have an outstanding contract in Rollins, so why would they want to move it? Plus, he's one of the best defensive infielders in baseball and one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball, too. If I had to bet my life on it, the Phillies don't trade Rollins.
- Zo, I hope you're right. the only reason I can see for trading Rollins would be if he and Charlie havne't goten past their issues this past season with Rollins' lack of hustle and showing up late in NY. Assuming that they have smoothed all this out, he's a steal with his contract— jeff gross
- There is no reason to fear what happens with Ryan Madson. He is not a closer, and never will be. Set up men do not make a truckload of money. Last year some MLB owners were angry with the Phillies because they felt we overpaid for JC Romero, and he is getting what, like $3.75M per year? Even if Madson pitches all of '09 like he did Sept. and Oct. '08 (which would be great news for the Phils and Brad Lidge), he's still only worth about $4-4.5M per year. The only concern would be Boras trying to demand a 67 year contract. As far as the rotation, I am not so willing to depend on Happ, Kendrick and Carrasco. The Phillies don't think Carrasco is ML ready, I am not sold on Happ as an every fifth day ML starting pitcher, and Kendrick just is not a ML pitcher, period. I think they would be wise to pick up a cheap, half-decent veteran to compete with Happ.— RollinsWasRight
- I agree Zo. Trading Rollins at this point doesn't make any sense. I was surprised that it was even brought up by a San Francisco guy. I know the Giants need a shorstop, but to get Rollins from us they have to overwhelm the Phillies with maybe Matt Cain, Aaron Rowand and a prospect. Then, who is going to play short for us?— EL Zorro
- Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley are two of the best bargains in all of baseball. Neither is going anywhere until their current contracts run out, at least. Most teams would kill to have two players that good locked up for four or five more years each at those prices.— RollinsWasRight
- I don't see the Phils trading Rollins either. Donald is not going to push him out of Philly. If anything, the fact that Donald is tearing up the Arizona Fall League will increase HIS trade value. Check this out from a live chat with Keith Law on espn.com.......KEITH LAW: "He (Donald)could play 3b for them every day next year and probably give them above-average defense, but less bat than you want at the spot. That means that he may have more value to them in trade to a club that needs a ss or 2b. If I’m Ruben Amaro, that’s the guy I’m using to fill whatever needs I decide I have (another starter would be nice)."— bski
Comment removed.- I was thinking about Holliday today too Beef. Wow, that would be great. It would take a lot to get him of course, plus I think he only has one year on his contract. But I love it. He would be perfect. Nice line about the crab bait too, btw. LOL.— NJLouis66
- Looks like the hot stove league is already hot. OK, here's my contribution: Phils will be after another stud SP. After Hamels and Myers, the rest is either not a lock on coming back or not adequately proven yet. Available: Jake Peavy. He's 28, under control through 2013 and his record is unimpeachable (unlike George Bush!). Padres are demanding a blue-chip OF and at least two blue-chip pitching prospects; offering that plus one other chucker might do it for any team. Phils have no room in the Show OF for Golson (even if Burrell goes, they have Shane, Jenkins and Werth to start), and have a ton of Pharm arms (plus a couple with MLB experience that are expendable, especially if they nab Peavy) that fill the bill. A trade match made in heaven, methinks.— marty
- Davegas, I would not trade those 3 prospects for Holliday. First, I don't think offense is a pressing need. Our offense underachieved last year and we still won it all. Yes, Burell hit 33 homers and had 86 RBI. But in my opinion, you can get away with a platoon in right field with a combination of Jenkins or Dobbs and a Rocco Baldelli kind if outfielder that could match Burells numbers. Remember, we were not counting on Werth numbers last year. He was going to platoon with Jenkins. So this year he becomes Pat Burell, which I think he can do, and probably exceed. Second, Holliday is going to be a one-year rental player. Scott Boras won't agree to a contract extension during the season with the Phillies. He is going to let Holliday test the free agent waters and we won't be able to compete with the biggest sharks. You are going to lose your catcher of the future, your shortstop or third baseman of the future and possibly the ace of the future. And Marty, Peavy will look great also in our team, but he has a list of teams he wants to be traded and the Phillies are not one of them.— EL Zorro
- Zorro, do you know the list? I haven't seen it anywhere. I believe you if you're really sure the Phils aren't on it, but why would he resist coming to the team that just won the whole shebang? Just because he doesn't like pitching in a home park that likes hitters?— marty
- I read somewhere that he will agree to be traded to a few teams, including the Cubs, the Dodgers, Atlanta and a few others.— EL Zorro
- The Phillies won't trade Rollins. Not a chance. Not for anyone. Not after his MVP last year and their World Series this year. Nope.— Bake McBride
