Source rebuffs Howard-to-KC speculation

PHOENIX - If Ryan Howard is going to have any chance to revitalize his fading big-league career, he'll have a better chance of doing so with an American League team, which can use him as a designated hitter.

So why shouldn't the Phillies try shipping Howard to the reigning AL champs, who happen to play in the former MVP's home state?

Ryan Howard, Kansas City Royal? Probably not.

Yesterday, a baseball source with knowledge of the situation shot down a USA Today report that Kansas City's front office had discussions about trading for Howard.

"There are discussions about everyone . . . [Howard] would be far down the list," the source said.

The Royals have an opening in their designated hitter role, as Billy Butler is a first-time free agent this winter.

But Howard isn't considered a top option for the Royals, the source said, and would be more of something the team possibly would consider further down the road this winter, if their first, second and third options don't pan out. And they still might seek a better fourth option than Howard at that point, too.

Howard, like Butler, is also limited as a baserunner. According to the source, the Royals aren't interested in replacing one DH who had trouble scoring from second base with another with the same lack-of-foot speed issues.

The source also added this: After watching catcher Salvador Perez start 150 games this season - and 15 more in the postseason - the Royals might be inclined to use him at DH more in 2015 in an attempt to preserve his knees.

In any Howard trade, of course, the Phillies would have to take on the majority of the $60 million the former MVP is owed in the next 2 years. Speaking in general terms - not specifically about any player - general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said that "under the right circumstances, certainly" the Phils would absorb hefty salary in moving players this winter.

Howard turns 35 a week from today. He hit .223 with a career-low .690 OPS in 153 games with the Phillies in 2014. He hit 23 home runs and drove in 95 runs, but also struck out a major league-leading 190 times and sported a career-low .380 slugging percentage.

The Phillies reportedly are highly motivated to move Howard to kick their rebuilding mode into high gear. Not only have Howard's skills declined rapidly since he suffered an Achilles' tear in October 2011, but the Phillies have ready replacements in Darin Ruf and Maikel Franco.

In an attempt to move Howard, the front office could try to package the first baseman with Marlon Byrd in trade discussions. Byrd, who is owed $8 million in 2015, with a vesting option for the same salary in 2016, is an attractive alternative for teams seeking corner outfield bats, but scared off by hefty price tags on the free-agent market.

But it's difficult to imagine a team wanting to take Howard with Byrd; in doing so, that team would be acquiring the major league's top two strikeout leaders from 2014. Only Howard struck out more often than Byrd (185) last season.

In addition to ridding themselves of two strikeout-prone bats, the Phillies' objective in moving both Howard and Byrd, among others, is to open up spots for the younger talent on their 40-man roster. In the last week, Amaro said one of the priorities of his team's rebuilding process is to let his younger position players play, be patient with them, and see whether they can be part of a new core to build around.

But the reality is there aren't places to play Ruf, Franco, Cody Asche and Domonic Brown together, regularly, unless both Byrd and Howard are no longer on the roster.

"I think that's the goal," Amaro said of creating regular playing time for that quartet. "I don't know if we have to [trade others] to do it, but it would help us as we assess where we want to go in the future, and that's why some of our goals are to try to give those guys opportunities to do that by trading certain guys. Do we have to do it? I don't think we have to. But I think it would be beneficial to the organization to give those young players opportunities so we can make those assessments."

But don't be surprised if the Phillies' ability to create those opportunities doesn't happen overnight - or even in the next month. The free-agent season just began, and normally doesn't heat up until closer to baseball's winter meetings, which take place from Dec. 8-11 in San Diego.

Many of the players the Phillies are shopping in trades could be backup plans for teams that miss out on free agents. After the likes of Yasmany Tomas and Nelson Cruz sign with teams, for example, the potential suitors who missed out could move on to to a player such as Byrd.

"Free agency is something that is a part of this whole process, and it certainly would affect how people would view the players that we've made available," Amaro said. "And how important they would become in their particular scenario so that's always part of it, the free-agent period. It's pretty clear that teams don't like to give up talent if they don't have to, and most of the deals we will make to try to rebuild this organization will likely begin through trade. To me, it's really about where those teams have their interest and where they want to put their resources, resources being players or dollars."