Master Index of Archived Threads


Ryan Howard Contract Extension

Benjamin Grimm Apr 26 2010 02:54 PM Ryan Howard gets paid... a lot!

ESPN.com wrote: Ryan Howard will remain in a Philadelphia Phillies uniform through the 2016 season after agreeing to a five-year extension worth an average of $25 million per year. The slugging first baseman has agreed to a $125 million extension that will kick in starting with the 2012 season. If the team picks up its option for the 2017 season, Howard could earn $138 million. There are no escalators in the contract, a source familiar with the details of the contract told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. The contract contains standard award bonuses. And Howard has the right to name a small group of teams to which the Phillies can trade him. He would become a 10-and-5 man, with full trade-veto rights, in May of 2015. The $25 million guaranteed average salary in the extension will be baseball's second-highest behind Alex Rodriguez's $27.5 million average under a 10-year contract with the Yankees running through 2017. Howard will earn $20 million in each of the 2012 and 2013 seasons and $25 million per season from 2014-16. The Phillies hold a club option for the 2017 season that is worth $23 million with a $10 million buyout. The 30-year-old Howard, who is 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, has 225 career home runs in 750 games. This season he is hitting .275 with three homers and 16 RBIs.

Gwreck Apr 26 2010 02:55 PM

(Note: I don't know where this thread goes. We have tons of MFY threads but no Phillies thread? Strange). Anyway, the Phillies gave Ryan Howard a 5 year, $125 million extension (starts in the 2012 season). Looks like they'll be overpaying big time come the end of that contract. Some commentary here: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/ ... r-for-rbis Amazing thing I learned: Ryan Howard is already 30 years only and is 2 months *older* than Albert Pujols.

Benjamin Grimm Apr 26 2010 02:56 PM Re: Ryan Howard gets paid... a lot!

I may be wrong, but I have a strong hunch that Ryan Howard will be over the hill well before that contract runs out.

Ceetar Apr 26 2010 02:56 PM Re: Ryan Howard gets paid... a lot!

Via PatrickJFlood twitter: "Ryan Howard's OPS against lefties has been in a steady decline his whole career, from .923 in 06 to .653 last season." "In other words: congrats, Phillies, you're going to be paying a lot of money for a potential platoon player!" Which might be a slight exaggeration, but he wasn't going to be a free agent after this season even, they paid him a ton of money which inhibits the ability to sign Rollins/Werth/fixholes, he'll be 35/36 at the end of the contract, and the team didn't get any better despite the much higher payroll. Works for me.

Edgy DC Apr 26 2010 03:00 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

Putting a no-trade clause in is redundant. That salary makes for a good no-trade clause.

Frayed Knot Apr 26 2010 03:13 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

Both the length and the timing surprise me on this one as much as the amount. Having him already signed thru 2012, this seemed like an odd time to extend that 5 (or 6) more years. So even without the option he's now locked up through age 36 and this has the potential to turn a bit Giambi on them. One-dimensional guys are scary ones to bet on even when they're going real well. Howard's age throws people because he wasn't a full-timer until age 26 -- something folks need to remember now and then when they declare themselves to be "tired of waiting" for some prospect because he's '22 freaking years old already'!! Utley was also 26 before he was playing full-time; Jayson Werth was 29 and in his 4th organization.

Gwreck Apr 26 2010 03:18 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

None of their key players are spring chickens, except Hamels who is 26. Rollins, Utley and Werth are all 31; Howard 30; Victorino 29. By comparison (of ages only), Wright is 27; Reyes turns 27 in June; Pelfrey is 26; Niese 23; even Oliver Perez is only 29 in August. (For what it's worth, Halladay is also a couple of years older than Santana).

smg58 Apr 26 2010 03:44 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

And they couldn't afford to hang on to Cliff Lee? I just don't get what they're doing. Lee's injury notwithstanding, they'd have been really hard to beat with both him and Halladay in the rotation the last five months of the season (plus October). And yet they have money to badly overpay for Howard's down years. Oh well, their loss is our gain.

Ashie62 Apr 26 2010 03:45 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

At some point the Phillies will return to the familiar role as doormats of the NL. It's just a matter of when, not if.

Centerfield Apr 26 2010 03:52 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

Gwreck wrote: None of their key players are spring chickens, except Hamels who is 26. Rollins, Utley and Werth are all 31; Howard 30; Victorino 29. By comparison (of ages only), Wright is 27; Reyes turns 27 in June; Pelfrey is 26; Niese 23; even Oliver Perez is only 29 in August. (For what it's worth, Halladay is also a couple of years older than Santana). None of them are particularly old either though. If they can afford to keep the team together, they will contend for a while. It's just I don't know whether they can afford that or not. I don't know if anyone noticed, but the Phillies have a higher payroll than the Mets.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 26 2010 04:01 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

Centerfield wrote: None of them are particularly old either though. If they can afford to keep the team together, they will contend for a while. It's just I don't know whether they can afford that or not. I don't know if anyone noticed, but the Phillies have a higher payroll than the Mets. Also, they don't have a cable network, nor the prospect of one. Butts in the seats are nice, but, madly rotating turnstiles and all, they're right up against their profit ceiling nowish. I'm guessing, then, that they're not looking to re-sign Werth after all?

attgig Apr 26 2010 04:13 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

fangraphs has a little analysis on the contract, although, it seems like the author "was tempted to fill this entire article with just [him] laughing." http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.ph ... -thinking/ pretty horrible contract in their opinion....as well as almost everyone else's. and yeah, ryan howard was an awesome prospect, but was blocked for the longest time by Thome's ridiculously huge contract. let's see what happens to that.... As for state of phils, I wonder where Werth is going to end up next year. They have Dominic Brown coming up who would seem to replace him, but just wonder where he's going to go. I think they're going to sorely miss his bat when he leaves, though I suppose if Brown is all he's supposed to be, they won't miss him that much. If we didn't have Fmart in the wings/Bay/Franceour already in bigs, I would've loved a shot at Werth. that said, I wonder how much a pujols contract is going to go... and does it price the cards out of an extension?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 26 2010 04:23 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

attgig wrote: As for state of phils, I wonder where Werth is going to end up next year. They have Dominic Brown coming up who would seem to replace him, but just wonder where he's going to go. I think they're going to sorely miss his bat when he leaves, though I suppose if Brown is all he's supposed to be, they won't miss him that much. Who replaces Ibanez, then? And yeah, since this extends Howard from 2011 on, they're actually paying that 25M per for his age 32-37 years. (Again, that's 25M. For a 37-year-old Ryan Howard.)

Frayed Knot Apr 26 2010 04:39 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

When asked for comment about the details of Ryan Howard's deal, Albert Pujols said; "Yeah baby!!", while StL management was a bit more low-key, issuing a quick; "Oh shit!"

Edgy DC Apr 26 2010 06:39 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

A lot of agents for talented but flawed MVP candidates --- including perhaps Wright's and Reyes' ---- are saying "ka-ching!" Of course, the only flaw with Pujols is that he share's Howard's position on the far side of the defensive spectrum, but he's nobody's idea of a statue over there. If Howard is worth that, I don't know what Pujols is worth.

Frayed Knot Apr 26 2010 06:51 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

Yeah, that's kind of the point; Pujols is the same age (a few months younger even), plays the same position much better, also runs better, plus came up much younger and therefore has a larger body of work (with a smaller body). And, oh yeah, Albert also has a .054/.053/.045 edge in his career BA/OBA/SLG marks Cards have a 2011 option of Poo-holes for $16mil so they've got until next winter to decide what they're going to do after that.

attgig Apr 26 2010 06:57 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: attgig wrote: As for state of phils, I wonder where Werth is going to end up next year. They have Dominic Brown coming up who would seem to replace him, but just wonder where he's going to go. I think they're going to sorely miss his bat when he leaves, though I suppose if Brown is all he's supposed to be, they won't miss him that much. Who replaces Ibanez, then? And yeah, since this extends Howard from 2011 on, they're actually paying that 25M per for his age 32-37 years. (Again, that's 25M. For a 37-year-old Ryan Howard.) I believe that Ibanez still has one more year on that contract. yeap... through 2011. so, that's an extra year. no way they sign Werth for a year, and carry brown as a 4th outfielder. i suppose they can keep him in AAA, but I don't see that happening.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 27 2010 01:04 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

JD of newish blog Section 518 underscores the ripple effects of the Howard deal, first-base-market-wise... This is what makes me positively giddy. Howard is inferior to both Gonzalez and Fielder, yet the Phillies just signed him to an extension that has an average annual value greater than everyone other than A-Rod. Think their agents aren’t sending gift baskets to Citizen’s Bank Park? What’s particularly intriguing about the scenario is that Milwaukee and San Diego are two of the smaller markets in the league. They don’t have the resources to devote $25 million to one player. The Mets do, and they’re aided by an additional factor: Carlos Beltran’s $17 million contract comes off the books after 2011, giving them even more payroll room*. It’s like the Perfect Storm: the Phillies took themselves off the market, but elevated the price tags to the point that only the large market teams can afford to pay them. Ike to right field, Prince/Adrian at first? With a renewed/renewed JoseX4 and a still-in-prime Dabidrye? AND whatever settles in out of FernyMarty, Thole, Neuwenhuis and Havens/Tejada/Lutz filling out the rest of the lineu-- (Passes out, then wakes up and mouths, "Thanks, Ruben," then passes out again)

Edgy DC Apr 27 2010 01:08 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

Prince Fielder is the future DH in the Bronx. Anybody who tells you otherwise hasn't been to future like I have. More seriously, as impossible as a promotion/relegation system may be to impose, contracts like this might have the smaller markets begging for such a system.

attgig Apr 27 2010 01:19 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

JD of newish blog Section 518 underscores the ripple effects of the Howard deal, first-base-market-wise... This is what makes me positively giddy. Howard is inferior to both Gonzalez and Fielder, yet the Phillies just signed him to an extension that has an average annual value greater than everyone other than A-Rod. Think their agents aren’t sending gift baskets to Citizen’s Bank Park? What’s particularly intriguing about the scenario is that Milwaukee and San Diego are two of the smaller markets in the league. They don’t have the resources to devote $25 million to one player. The Mets do, and they’re aided by an additional factor: Carlos Beltran’s $17 million contract comes off the books after 2011, giving them even more payroll room*. It’s like the Perfect Storm: the Phillies took themselves off the market, but elevated the price tags to the point that only the large market teams can afford to pay them. Ike to right field, Prince/Adrian at first? With a renewed/renewed JoseX4 and a still-in-prime Dabidrye? AND whatever settles in out of FernyMarty, Thole, Neuwenhuis and Havens/Tejada/Lutz filling out the rest of the lineu-- (Passes out, then wakes up and mouths, "Thanks, Ruben," then passes out again) I'd move anyone to any other position if it meant getting pujols... but I wonder if pujols would want to move. he did play LF and 3b in his yuonger days...

Edgy DC Apr 27 2010 01:47 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

I'm certain that a committed Pujols would make a better outfielder and just as certain that nobody would have the guts to move him. But fuck it. We're set for a generation here.

Frayed Knot Apr 27 2010 01:48 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

The thing is, when Pujols comes up for bidding at the end of next season, who are the Red Birds going to be bidding against? Yanx have Tex signed thru 2056. Boston ... maybe, but they've kind of gone out of their way to avoid the HUGE contracts. Mets? - might depend on how Ike's doing and other factors. Detroit has Cabrera, Dodgers w/Loney, etc. And many teams that could conceivably afford it might pass on the theory that chopping that price tag up into 3 or 4 parts will fill several holes instead of just one - a la the BoSox putting Manny on waivers a bunch of years back. Point being, that just because Albert is X % better than Howard doesn't necessarily mean he's getting a bigger deal by that same X % That the Phils bid against no one to sign a player to a long-term deal at top-shelf prices when he still had two years left on his existing one is their problem and it doesn't mean it has to become everyone else's too.

Fman99 Apr 27 2010 01:52 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

Wow, that's 62.5 million per giant weird nostril. Seems steep.

attgig Apr 28 2010 12:17 PM Re: Ryan Howard Contract Extension

Frayed Knot wrote: The thing is, when Pujols comes up for bidding at the end of next season, who are the Red Birds going to be bidding against? Yanx have Tex signed thru 2056. Boston ... maybe, but they've kind of gone out of their way to avoid the HUGE contracts. Mets? - might depend on how Ike's doing and other factors. Detroit has Cabrera, Dodgers w/Loney, etc. And many teams that could conceivably afford it might pass on the theory that chopping that price tag up into 3 or 4 parts will fill several holes instead of just one - a la the BoSox putting Manny on waivers a bunch of years back. Point being, that just because Albert is X % better than Howard doesn't necessarily mean he's getting a bigger deal by that same X % That the Phils bid against no one to sign a player to a long-term deal at top-shelf prices when he still had two years left on his existing one is their problem and it doesn't mean it has to become everyone else's too. Yanks most likely won't be with tex Boston, even though they've avoided huge contracts, I don't see them shying away from a huge contract with Pujols. Mets - it'll depend on ike, but even so, I would hope they explore it and consider moving ike to RF...just sayin Dodgers - I see them making a move - Loney hasn't developed any power, and he'll be commanding a lot more money via Arb (or will he be a FA by then?) Cubs - I see them making a move. Lee will have his contract off, the books along with a couple other big $. Angels - probably not with Morales Whitesox - possibly with Konerko off the books. Giants - Possibly with panda going to 3b I think you could have a few others who could surprisingly get in there...especially when someone this good is the prize.