Phillies Sign Howard to Huge Extension
The Phillies Slugger Will Earn $125 Over 5 Years
Keeping a Strong Nucleus of Players
A 2006 MVP, Howard avoided arbitration in 2009 by signing a three year deal worth $54 million deal. The new deal signed on Monday, coupled with several others made by the Phillies (including the signing of Pitcher Roy Halladay), has established a strong nucleus of high-caliber players that the Phillies can build upon for years to come. Over the last year, the Phillies have locked up Howard, Halladay, pitcher Cole Hamels, and second baseman Chase Utley for the next several years. Next up, the Phillies will be focusing on re-signing right fielder Jayson Werth, who becomes a free agent after this season. Howard's extension is worth $25 million in guaranteed average salary and makes him one of the highest paid players in all of baseball.
The deal will begin in 201l, when Howard would have been a free agent, guaranteeing that the 30-year-old will be with the Philadelphia Phillies until at least 2016. If the Phillies chose to exercise the club option in 2017, the deal would be worth $138 million.
A Sign of Confidence
The Phillies slugger has consistently performed well with the bat, hitting .279 with 45 homers and 141 RBIs last season and serving up three homers and 16 RBIs in 80 at-bats so far in the month of April. In the last four seasons, Howard has elite numbers with an average of 49 homers and 143 RBIs. Despite those statistics, there have been some concerns among the Phillies top brass, as Howard has also averaged 191 strike outs over the same period of time. Howard responded by working extra hard in the last few off seasons, leading to a renewed confidence in his ability to perform at a high level well into his career. The new deal, which also contains a limited no-trade clause, rewards Howard's consistent defensive improvement, better conditioning, and heightened athleticism. When the deal ends in 2016, Howard will be 36.
Howard, who is fifth on the Phillies' all-time home run list, will become the highest paid first baseman in major league baseball. This deal also means that Howard will become the highest paid player in Phillies history, making Howard, a very rich and happy man.
SOURCES
Published by StillWideAwake
MLB Playoff Preview: The Philadelphia Phillies In a year in which the Philadelphia Phillies set a record for being the first franchise in sports to lose 10,000 games, it is ironic that they are going to the playoffs. - Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard- a Possible MVP?Ryan Howard of the Phils currently leads the NL in homers and RBI,but can he lead his team to the wild card?
- Ryan Howard Will Go High in the Free 2009 Fantasy Baseball DraftsRyan Howard swings for the fences, pure and simple. In the free 2009 Fantasy Baseball Drafts he will go high. There is no reason he shouldn't hit 40 HRs and knock in 150 RBIs.
- Ryan Howard for MVP!In a season that seemed lost; Ryan Howard has given Phillies' fans hope for this season, as well as the future.
- Ryan Howard: Once Named Cardinal's Athlete of the Week?Phillies' first baseman Ryan Howard sports a red uniform with number six. Born in the town where a red number six was made famous by Stan "The Man" Musial, Howard was once chosen as Cardinals' Athlete of the Week. Co...
- Ryan Howard Signs New Contract Extension with Philadelphia Phillies
- Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies
- Albert Pujols-Ryan Howard Trade Called a Lie by Phillies
- Ryan Howard Keeping Phillies Alive in Wild Card Chase
- Now Ryan Howard is Carrying the Phillies Big Stick
- Philadelphia Phillies - Top 5 Prospects - 2010 Fantasy Baseball
- Philadelphia Phillies 1st Baseman Ryan Howard is Quietly Having a Great Season
- Howard's deal is worth $125 million over 5 years
- The deal makes Howard the highest paid Phillie ever
- The deal keeps a solid nucleus together
2 Comments
Post a CommentWe are set for a while.
$125 million! Wow! And yet people pick on the Yankees for trying to "buy" a world series.