Nick Piccone
Even if the Phillies were to pay most of, if not all, of Ryan Howard’s remaining money on his current contract, it didn’t look like they would ever be able to unload him. Sure, he has 14 home runs this season, but most of his swings lack any pure power stroke he had before he tore his Achilles in 2011. But now that he’s in the final year of his contract, he could become an inexpensive rental player for a team in a pennant race, according to Today’s Knuckleball.
It has long seemed impossible that the Phillies would ever find someone to take first baseman Ryan Howard in a trade. However, they are getting feelers from teams now that his five-year, $125 million contract is nearing its end.
The 36-year-old Howard is hitting just .159 with a .952 OPS in 73 games but has hit 14 home runs in 234 plate appearances.
“I’d take him just to have him come off the bench in a pennant race and the postseason,” an AL scout said. “He’s pretty much at the end of the line but the one thing he can still do is pop a ball out of the ballpark. He might win you a game or two for you that way.”
Phillies manager Pete Mackanin has been impressed by how Howard has handled reduced playing time this season.
“I don’t know if he necessarily has liked it but he has accepted it and he has been really good in the clubhouse with our young kids, always talking with them, always encouraging them,” Mackanin said.
I resigned myself to the fact that this year was a Ryan Howard Farewell Tour a couple of months ago. I wanted him off the team, but I’m more nostalgic now, and it’s probably because the Phillies aren’t contenders. If the Phillies are able to get anything for Howard in return – even if it’s a schmo to be named later – I’d like to see Howard have one more crack at winning a World Series.