The Big Gun
September 17, 2008, 6:00 pm
Ryan Howard is reportedly up for grabs this offseason. One has to wonder whether or not the Yankees will be interested in Howard for first base, especially if the price is right (a huge 6 or 8-year deal with Mark Teixeira may scare them). With the team likely to let Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi go, he could fill the void for a powerful left-handed bat. I haven’t been a big fan of Howard this year, but his numbers are undeniably strong as he is finishing up the season with a blistering barrage of homers and RBI (.396 BA and 1.448 OPS this month). His season clip is currently .249/.335/.537 with 45 HR and 136 RBI. He has struck out 190 times (and will probably break another record) and has been rather streaky.
But, on the bright side, he’s 28, in his prime, and if traded would only be around until he was 32 (he’ll be a free agent after the 2011 season). He’ll essentially be arbitration eligible for the next 3 years and will make a good amount of money after his arbitration payday this year (he was awarded a record $10 million), but he’s reportedly looking for an extension. If the Yankees sign Mark Teixeira, he may be around until he’s 34 or 36 (and he’ll be worth more over a long period of time). Ryan Howard is a shorter commitment with less financial risk, although you’ll have to give up a lot to get him. There are rumors circulating that whatever is given up for Howard could then be used to trade for Matt Holliday, which would also complicate matters for the Yankees if they intend to look at Holliday when and if he hits free agency.
What would the Yankees likely have to give up to get Howard? It’s an intriguing possibility.
The Phillies will have a starting rotation of:
1. Cole Hamels
2. Brett Myers
3. Jamie Moyer
4. Joe Blanton
5. Kyle Kendrick
I think the 4th and 5th spots are still up in the air. Kyle Kendrick hasn’t been good at all this year, and Blanton hasn’t been great either, so I’m assuming that they’d search for a young starter. A package that includes at least Ian Kenndy would have to be featured, although the Phillies have tried to get Hughes in the past, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried that again (they’ll fail, but they’ll try).
They may be willing to stick with that rotation, however, and if they do, they could look to move Howard for some valuable position prospects, which the Yankees really don’t have (or, they don’t have a good number of them so they’re not expendable).
No one mentioned Aceves? However I’d still like Cano to be dealt to the Dodgers for Billingsley. That kid could be our equivalent to Daisuke Matsuzaka (or to a lesser extent, Jon Lester)