Ryan Howard Wants $18 Million – Phillies Say $14 Million
It’s gonna be another battle between the Phillies and first baseman Ryan Howard.
Howard has asked for $18 million in salary arbitration today, the third-highest figure submitted since the process began in 1974. The Phillies have countered with $14 million – a raise of $4 million.
Is Ryan Howard really worth $18 million? Remember the arbitration process is all or nothing – the arbitrator can not pick a middle ground here. I think a $4 million raise is totally fair for the ultra-powerful but streaky slugger. This is going to be interesting – how many more times are the Phillies gonna put up with this before they dump Howard and go another route? First basemen are not starting pitchers in this league and that is a ton of cash that could go elsewhere.
Houston’s Roger Clemens set the record for highest request in arbitration at $22 million in 2005. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is second at $18.5 million in 2001.
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5 Comments so far ...
$14MM is a good number offered by the Phils. But Howard’s got a shot, and if he wins, that sets up big numbers in 2010 and 2011. I think if Howard wins this arb case, and doesn’t sign long-term by next off-season, the Phils are going to trade him.
Comment on January 20, 2009 05:25 pmTotally agree. Two more years of these kind of numbers is scary.
Comment on January 20, 2009 05:28 pmHoward is the only arb case for the Phils. Everyone else is signed.
Comment on January 21, 2009 04:40 pmYeppers. Durbin just got done – but there is NO WAY Howard signs a deal – any deal.
Comment on January 21, 2009 04:59 pmHoward has no loyalty to this team, and rightly so, and neither would any of us, after being call up two years later than he should have, and now being shown nothing short of the business end of this team, he is ghost as soon as he’s eligible for free agency, so why not trade him now before we get nada for all of his rendered services. I am sure he’s a swell guy but he’s worth more now than ever so why not cash in on him now before his first 28 home run 200 strike out season at 20 mil. Just my two cents.
Comment on January 25, 2009 01:30 am