Can I Buy You A Drank?

I love it.  And so does Ryan Howard:

I’m happy to have this done and to know that I’ll be in Philadelphia for at least another three years.  Both sides are happy, and now I’m just focused on getting the season started and having fun.

In my post the other day, I expressed some of my reservation toward sign Ryan Howard to a long-term deal.  Ruben Amaro Jr. must have felt similarly, and avoided the long-term deal as well as any future arbitration hearings for Howard; a win-win for the Phillies GM.

Howard is a beast at the plate, and we need him in our quest for repeat World Series wins (there are no “defending” champions, as that implies you are guaranteed another shot in the title fight).  The contract locks Howard down for the short-term, but does not leave the team handcuffed like the 10-year, $180 million+ deal I’m sure Howard was looking for.

Everyone walks away happy here.  Howard gets his money now, which he deserves (don’t hate the player, hate the game).  The Phillies retain Howard for three more years in his prime, removing the black cloud of arbitration, and most importantly, the flexibility to either trade, re-sign, or let Howard walk based on his performance and maturation of the next three years.

Maybe Amaro learned the move from Vic Mackey  while playing Captain Acevada on the set of The Shield.  I’m on to you, Ruben.

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The Phillies avoided arbitration for Ryan Howard for the next three years Sunday by locking him up for the next three seasons with a contract worth reportedly $54 million.  Howard will get $15 million i 2009, $19 million in 2010, and $20 million in 2011.  Since Howard was asking for $18 million in arbitration, the Phillies saved themselves $3 million this year and probably about that much the next two years as well if Howard continues at his current pace.

I have some mixed feelings on this.  Howard’s power numbers can’t be discounted, but was it really a good idea to give a guy who barely hit .250 this year a $54 million contract?  Some suggested that the arbitration process last year affect Howard in the early part of the season and contributed to his awful start to 2008.  Will having peace of mind all spring training allow Howard to completely focus on improving his swing and cutting down on his gaudy strikeout totals?  Possibly.

Of course, the Phillies could have also signed Howard to the three year deal so that he’d be easier to move in a trade should they decide Howard isn’t a long term solution for them.  It’s a lot easier to deal a guy who is locked into a deal and not facing the unpredictable process of arbitration.  Howard’s new deal, however, does inclue a $1 million trade provision so the Phills would owe Howard that much if they trade him before this deal expires.

The best part of this happening now is that there will be NO contract distractions this spring.  The Phillies have locked up all of their arbitration eligible players before pitchers and catcher report so everyone can focus on defending their World Series crown.

Ryan Howard is seeking $18 million dollars in arbitration for 2009 booze money.

Ryan Howard is currently asking for $18 million in MLB salary arbitration for the 2009 season.  The Phillies in turn are offering a paultry $14 mill for the one year services of the pictured slugger.

To place how ridiculous these numbers are, Howard’s arbitration request is the 3rd largest since the inception of the program in 1974.  The two larger requests came from Roger Clements ($22 million) in 2005 and Derek Jeter ($18.5 million) in 2001 immediately following a Yankees World Series loss to Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondback’s.  The Jeter offer can be looked at as a more comparable situation, as Jeter was coming off three straight strong seasons and a World Series MVP in 2000.

However, Derek Jeter is no Ryan Howard.  The two are polar opposites at the plate, though both amazing at what they do, and Jeter can anchor an infield for a decade while many consider Howard to be a has-been (never was) in the field at 29.  Jeter’s situation was resolved when the two sides came to agree on a 10-year, $189 million long term deal.

I’m not sure that the Phillies are committed to Howard for the long term.

I’m not sure that they should be.  Howard’s power is one in a million, but the prolonged slumps, record strikeout totals and ineptitude in the field are hard to overlook.  Although the long-ball erases all wrongdoing in the eyes of the casual fan, Howard sure is looking like a AL-only DH in the making.  If Howard does sign a long-term deal, the Phillies may end up handcuffed to an aging slugger who forgets his stroke and can’t work the field.

If a deal is not struck and Howard does reach an arbitration hearing, there is no middle ground.   Howard will either receive $14 million or $18 million.  My guess is the Phillies win this time around and Howard gets a $4 million raise - not too shabby coming off of his $10 million arbitration win last year.

Although the actual date of specific player arbitration hearings is kept secret, hearings begin Feb. 2 and conclude Feb. 22, so expect resolution shortly.