Well, I was very surprised when I saw this news floating around this morning. Let me first say, I think it is a great signing and it really shows that the Phillies are not willing to just let the players who produce walk away. Ryan Howard is under appreciated by many in the city because of his strikeout problem but there is no doubt that this was the right move.
His new deal begins in 2012 and takes him through 2016. There is a $23 million club option for 2017, or a $10 million buyout. Howard will make $20 million in 2012 and 2013 and $25 million in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
.279 avg, 225 HR, 476 R, 656 RBI, .583 SLG...OH and 10 stolen bases. Those are Ryan Howards career numbers in the bigs...seven seasons including 2010. Let's not forget the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards along with a big hand in the 2008 Championship run. People seem to focus more on the 892 strikeouts over Howard's career BUT he has produced more homers and RBI's than anyone else in Major League Baseball over the past years. Howard has been improving his game at first base, working on his swing against curveball's and it has been showing.
The signing of Howard is right move for many reasons. First of all, unlike the outfield situation, the Phillies have no prospects at first base. This signing leaves extra time for the Phils to develop a first basemen in the years to come Secondly, if the Phils were thinking of letting Howard walk and possibly keeping Werth, that is still a huge hole in the number of homers and RBI when you compare the two. Third, Big Brown has done nothing but go out there and give his all every game. Is he the best fielding first basemen?...No. But this guy deserves to be in Philly and deserves appreciation for the numbers he has put up over the years. He has had 135+ RBI's every year since 2006 and 45+ homers. Is that something you want to see walk out the door after 2011?...I sure don't. He brings excitement, leadership and personality to the clubhouse and it is well worth the money in my eyes.
Don't get me wrong, there are a few worry issues here. The extension is in effect as of 2012, when Ryan will be 32. Many people, including myself, believe that Howard may begin to decline in the middle years of the extension. Also, with this big signing, it seems to be more of a reality that Jayson Werth will not be back in red pinstripes after this season. That said, Dom Brown is waiting in the wings. The only issue with that is the loss of a right handed power bat. The Phillies made it to the World Series against the Yanks in 2009 behind the left handed power but could not win with it. The Yankees were a much better team than the '08 Rays that the Phils took care of and the loss of Werth leaves a big gap in right handed power since Brown is a lefty.
The way I see it, signing Howard was inevitable. I am a big fan of the guy as I am of Werth but if you have to choose between the two, there is no one to fill in for Howard if he were to have left. We all have to hope Dom Brown lives up to the "top prospect" label and not fold like Chris Roberson.
Now, the Phillies have Howard, Utley, and Halladay locked up for a while. What does that say about the soon expiring contracts of Werth, Hamels, Madson, and Rollins? Only time will tell but it looks as if the "window of opportunity" to win a championship was opened a little bigger this afternoon as Howard looks to finish his career as a Phillie. A very surprising signing for an organization that never shelled out the money to keep their players...but a great signing none the less. Thanks Ruben.
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