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Howard going into Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame

The Phillies veteran played for Phoenix Desert Dogs in 2004.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard. (David Goldman/AP)
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard. (David Goldman/AP)Read more
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RYAN HOWARD is headed to the Hall of Fame . . . in Arizona.

Howard will be inducted into the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at Scottsdale Stadium before the Scottsdale Scorpions' home opener in Arizona Fall League play. Howard, who missed the last 3 months of the Phillies season while recovering from knee surgery, played for the Phoenix Desert Dogs in 2004.

"Ryan Howard is a record-setting all-star player, a World Series champion, and a great ballplayer, teammate and person," Fall League director Steve Cobb said in a press release.

Howard, 33, is one of 11 former AFL players to win a major league MVP award, along with current teammate Jimmy Rollins, Albert Pujols, Joey Votto, Buster Posey, Dustin Pedroia, Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Josh Hamilton, Ryan Braun and Jason Giambi.

Howard, who joined the Phillies for their last series of the season over the weekend in Atlanta, is scheduled to continue his rehab in Florida later this month. He is expected to be 100 percent when the Phillies report to spring training in January.

Cloyd, Valdes claimed

The Phillies have begun to get their 40-man roster in order in preparation for the offseason. In doing so, they lost two pitchers.

Righthander Tyler Cloyd and lefthander Raul Valdes were claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros, respectively.

Cloyd, 26, pitched himself into a major league job during a memorable 2012 season. He went 15-1 with a 2.26 ERA in 26 starts between Double A Reading and Triple A Lehigh Valley, earning International League Most Valuable Pitcher of the Year honors, along with the Paul Owens Award for the top pitcher in the Phils' farm system in 2012.

But Cloyd went 4-9 with a 5.98 in 19 major leagues games (17 starts) in the last two seasons. Cloyd went 0-4 with a 15.60 ERA in five games (four starts) in September.

Valdes, who turns 36 next month, was 1-1 with a 7.46 ERA in 17 games with the Phillies this season. He was not added to the major league roster when rosters expanded in September.

- Ryan Lawrence