Howard Looking For Big Extension
Sunday, February 24, 2008
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is looking for a deal more than the eight year, 136 million that Alfonso Soriano got. In the year Soriano got that contract, he hit .277 with 46 HR, 95 RBI, 41 SB, and 160 K. This past season, Howard hit .268 with 47 HR, 136 RBI, 1 SB, and 199 K. Those numbers are pretty similar, and if Howard does it again I assume the market will take him up to a something like a ten year deal worth 20 million dollars annually. Personally, I do not know if the Phillies will take that kind of contract under their wings, but they might be able to sign him to a short term extension to buy out some of arbitration, and then trade him during the 2010 or 2011 season. Howard does not seem to set on his future, so I think he will explore the waters just for the experience. The Phillies plan to go year by year with Howard, and might take him to arbitration one or two more times before considering a big extension. So we are obviously far from a resolution here but this could turn into an ugly situation if something is not settled soon.
2 comments:
He is young, powerful and a franchise marketing head. They would be foolish to let him go, he will hit 600 homers in his career. They have a young nuculous and if their pitching can produce, it will be a great matchup come late august between the Mets and Phils.
The team has it, so it's time to show him the money, not the door. I am a firm believer that if the team commits to Howard & Hamels, the way they have Utley, world championships are on the horizion for sure. The days of Philly being considered a perrenial loser are over, that distinction has moved down I-95 to Baltimore and taken up permanent residence.
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