Howard looking for the big bucks

Ryan Howard has dismissed his agent Larry Reynolds. This move by the National League MVP could be a precursor for him to push for a new contract. Considering his superb production and his $355,000 salary the Phillies got some serious bang for their buck in 2006. Taking in view this off season when GMs handed out obscenely large contracts like making money was going out of style the Phillies were truly fortunate to get such huge value out of a player.

Howard won’t be arbitration eligible until after the 2007 season and won’t be a free agent until after the 2011. So as far as Howard’s 2007 salary goes the Phillies can choose to pay him what they want. Phil’s Assistant GM Ruben Amaro did comment that, “He’s obviously due a big raise.” How big a raise he will get is unclear. The Phillies total salary will probably end up in the 90-95 million dollar range. So they do have some room to work with. They could hypothetically trim their payroll even more if the player or players they would receive in a Jon Lieber trade come with cheap contracts. Hopefully the Phillies brain trust will choose to show Howard some respect and award him a salary in the range of 4-5 million dollars.

Negotiations for a long-term deal with Howard haven’t happened yet. Pat Gillick has been focusing on trading Lieber and finding a set up man. The Phillies also hope to avoid salary arbitration with Chase Utley, Brett Myers, Aaron Rowand, Ryan Madson, and Geoff Geary. Utley, Myers, and Geary are due for big pay raises. The huge contracts GMs handed out this off-season will also force the Phillies to offer more money to their arbitration eligible. After the Phils more pressing needs at dealt with Gillick might start working on a contract extension for Howard.

I hope that Howard considers the success of the team if he chooses to ask for a contract extension. He most certainly deserves big money but he’s young and will get his money eventually. If he pushes the Phils for a contract extension too hard and the Phils give in then it could hurt the team’s chances for success in the long run.

Sources:
Howard dismisses agent; Phils mull raise
ESPN.com New Services

Report: Howard looking for new agent
MLB.com

Phils’ Howard fires agent
By Todd Zolecki and Claire Smith / Philadelphia Inquirer