Breaking down Howard's $18 million request
The gap between the Phillies and slugger Ryan Howard is bigger this year than it was last year, when the two sides took their $3 million difference into the court room. There, Howard was awarded a record $10 million. This year, he is seeking $18 million, which would make him among the game's highest paid players.
Breaking down Howard's $18 million request
David Murphy
The gap between the Phillies and slugger Ryan Howard is bigger this year than it was last year, when the two sides took their $3 million difference into the court room. There, Howard was awarded a record $10 million. This year, he is seeking $18 million, which would make him among the game's highest paid players.
The request is a monster. Not only is it the third-highest arbitration request ever (behind Roger Clemens' $22 million in 2005 and Derek Jeter's $18.5 million in 2001), it would make him among the highest-paid players in the game - at least in terms of 2009 salary - period.
An interesting note: Jeter was represented in 2001 by Casey Close, who is also Howard's agent.
If Howard wins, he will earn the second-largest annual salary amongst major league first baseman, behind only the Yankees Mark Teixeira, whose average annual salary is $22.5 million. Howard would earn more annually than Albert Pujols ($14.285).
The Phillies are offering $14 million. There is little optimism at this point within the club that it will be able to avoid another arbitration hearing with Howard.
According to the Associated Press' salary database, only five players earned more than $18 million last season: Alex Rodriguez ($28 million), Jason Giambi ($23.4 million), Derek Jeter ($18.929 million) and Carlos Beltran ($18.62 million).
Ten players currently have contracts whose average annual value is $18 million or greater:
Alex Rodriguez, NYY 2008-17 $27,500,000
CC Sabathia, NYY 2009-15 $23,000,000
Johan Santana, NYM 2008-13 $22,916,667
Miguel Cabrera, Det 2008-15 $19,037,500
Derek Jeter, NYY 2001-10 $18,900,000
Carlos Zambrano, Cubs 2008-12 $18,300,000
Andruw Jones, LAD 2008-09 $18,100,000
Vernon Wells, Tor 2008-14 $18,000,000
Barry Zito, SF 2007-13 $18,000,000
Ichiro Suzuki, Sea 2008-12 $18,000,000
Torri Hunter, LAA 2008012 $18,000,000
UPDATED: After doing some research, I've added Torri Hunter to the list, who signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Angels last offseason. Not sure why he wasn't on the AP list.
Source: Associated Press
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More arbitration fun:
Joe Blanton is in the fold at one year and $5.475 million.
That means, besides Howard, only two arbitration-eligible Phillies remain unsigned: right fielder Jayson Werth and righthander Chad Durbin.
Durbin should be a relatively low-maintenance process, and the Phillies don't seem too concerned that Werth's contract will drag out.
I rest my case.— Beef69- Hmmm.....very tough. IF they aren't going to sign him, then a trade for prospects is a must...and I'm not talking baout the Travis Lee and Nelson Figueroa type either.— davekrieg
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Give it to him!— kjuggs77- earn that much more than Pujols? I don't think so.— palmyra21
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- That's too much. He bats like .220.— ejb
- The list speaks volumes. He deserves to be that range when you look at who is on there.— Bob1
- If you are going to base this on the list how about also factoring in Cole Hames THREE YEARS $20 MILLION.. Howard 1 year $18 Million / Cole Hamels 3 years 20 million.. $18 is too high and he will lose this year.....— Conshy04
- Considering who's on that list $18 million is fine. They need to consider him already on a deal that will run through his arbitration years and top out at $24 million, if he continues to put up his monster numbers. Then he'll be, what, 32 years old and headed for the American League to take David Ortiz' spot. It's too bad, but it beats signing him to the long-term deal he'd command if he were actually a free agent today.— frankenslade
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- Phils offer of $14 mil is more than fair. Then trade him right after the ink has dried. This guy is insane to even ask for $18 million! inquisitor, your point on this would be most of these guys actually are over the hill or grossly overpiad, what makes you think Howard won't be right there after he gets his money. He is no young stud and has the body of an elephant. Don't forget the record number of k's this guy has had! I'd rather have Pujols at $14 mil.— scars73
- Save the big money for the pitchers— louturks
- I thought it would end up at $15 mil. After looking at this list, the first thing you have to do is throw out all the Yankees and Mets. They skew the payroll curve unrealistically because, well they are the Yankees and the Mets. Who's that leave? Cabrera, Det $19,037,500 Zambrano, Cubs 2008-12 $18,300,000, Andruw Jones, LAD 2008-09 $18,100,000, Vernon Wells, Tor 2008-14 $18,000,000, Barry Zito, SF 2007-13 $18,000,000, Ichiro Suzuki, Sea 2008-12 $18,000,000 - Nobody on this list is work the money. If you follow baseball even a little more than the average fan, you know that the only person really worth the money on this list is Suziki and that because of the money he generates out of Japan for MLB and Seattle. $12 to $15 seems about right, based on market conditions, but noone should make more than Albert Pujols.— gtb513
