Phils give Howard $125M extension

[Mel_13]

Ryan Howard will remain in a Philadelphia Phillies uniform through the 2016 season after agreeing to a five-year extension worth $25 million per year.

The slugging first baseman has agreed to a five-year, $125 million extension that will kick in starting with the 2012 season.

Howard, 30, has 225 career home runs in 750 games.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5137456

[BRHornet45]

$25 million per year for 40-50 home runs and 200 strikeouts each year? no thanks. there is more to baseball than just home runs and that is damn near ALL Howard has to offer ... say what you want, but the dude isn't worth anywhere near that. but hey good for him though to get such a great payday.

[gaKNOW!blee]

$25 million per year for 40-50 home runs and 200 strikeouts each year? no thanks. there is more to baseball than just home runs and that is damn near ALL Howard has to offer ... say what you want, but the dude isn't worth anywhere near that. but hey good for him though to get such a great payday.

he also gives a shit load of RBI's and tremendous September/Playoff play.

[BRHornet45]

he also gives a shit load of RBI's and tremendous September/Playoff play.

$15-18 million per year? ok .... but $25M?

[Udokafan05]

Utley deserves to get paid more then Howard.

[symple19]

$25 million per year for 40-50 home runs and 200 strikeouts each year? no thanks. there is more to baseball than just home runs and that is damn near ALL Howard has to offer ... say what you want, but the dude isn't worth anywhere near that. but hey good for him though to get such a great payday.

Well said son

[DBryant88]

he's 30 years old. In 2-3 years they will regret this

[AFBlue]

This is unfortunate for me as a Rays fan as it almost puts the starting point in negotiations for Carlos Pena, another left-handed slugging first baseman, out of reach from the outset.

If Pena is now looking for $15-18M per season, the Rays are probably out of the bidding altogether.

[RedsLakers24]

Phillies will regret this in 3 years, his swing is going to get slower and oyour going to see more K's

[RedsLakers24]

Reds need to Lock Up Joey Votto as soon as possible

[IronMexican]

he's 30 years old. In 2-3 years they will regret this

You familiar with Baseball? This is usually the age when players hit their power surge.

[AFBlue]

You familiar with Baseball? This is usually the age when players hit their power surge.

Power has never been Howard's problem. He's adequate at best defensively, which counts in a league w/ no DH. And though he's shown increased ability to handle lefties and breaking pitches, he's still a strikeout machine.

But if the Phillies want to blow a huge wad of money on this guy for the next 7 years (2 years still left on current deal), more power to them. I originally had issue with it because I thought it might drive the price of free agent 1B this winter...but I've since been talked down on that.

[RedsLakers24]

You familiar with Baseball? This is usually the age when players hit their power surge.

Are you familiar with Baseball?, power is not his problem, its his bat speed, he strikes out alot, and when you get there in age you loose bat speed, so he still might hit 40 hr but his avg will be somewhere in the 240"s

[IronMexican]

Power has never been Howard's problem. He's adequate at best defensively, which counts in a league w/ no DH. And though he's shown increased ability to handle lefties and breaking pitches, he's still a strikeout machine.

But if the Phillies want to blow a huge wad of money on this guy for the next 7 years (2 years still left on current deal), more power to them. I originally had issue with it because I thought it might drive the price of free agent 1B this winter...but I've since been talked down on that.

I agree, it's not power. But he's a first basemen. Not really that hard to play. Sure, you do have occasional streamer heading down the line. He's gonna continue to hit 30+ homers till he's in his mid/late 30's. Even now, he isn't a great fielder.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

This is a dumb signing when you look at Howards numbers. Since 2006 his on base %, slugging % and OPS have steadily gone down. Given how bad his #'s are 20 games into this year the timing of the extension makes no sense.