The Phillies signed Ryan Howard to a five-year contract extension worth at least $125 million. Howard would make $20 million in 2012 and 2013 and then $25 million in 2014-2016. In case the math doesn't add up the Phillies hold an option in 2017 for $23 million with a guaranteed $10 million in a buyout.
Howard is 30 but its hard to argue with his production. The former MVP averaged 49.5 home runs and 143 RBI over the past four seasons in that shoe box they call Citizens Bank Park.
I'm not sure anyone is worth an average salary of $23 million per year in the current economic climate (yes even Twins catcher Joe Mauer) but what I wonder is what does this say about the contract the Cardinals will need to give Albert Pujols?
Pujols is a few months younger than Howard but has nearly 700 more games under his belt. Pujols is a better hitter (.333 career batting average to Howard's .279) and has a career OPS nearly 100 points higher (1.054 against Howard's .956).
Dare I say Pujols may get $30 million a year after Mauer and Howard each signed for an average salary of $23 million per season.
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And Pujols isn't the only one affected. What does this set Fielder at? Here's an article discussing some of the timing around this deal
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_article/the-timing-of-the-ryan-howard-contract/
There are teams out there willing to snatch up good players and there are players out there willing to jump ship for a bigger paycheck. If you've got a guy who the fans like and who is productive I guess you need to strike early and overpay to keep him.
ReplyDeleteThe latest bar has been set and like Tim said, this is going to have some effect when Fielder's turn comes up (but then again he's going to get traded to the Red Sox)
Ug. I hope he doesn't get traded to the Red Sox. I feel happier with Youkilis at first and Lars Anderson as a prospect than with betting on Fielder over the longterm.
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