Given that the Philadelphia Phillies hold a $10 million buy-out on Ryan Howard's $23 million option for 2017, 2016 is all but guaranteed to be Howard's final season in Philadelphia.
One of the longest tenured members of the organization isn't sure Howard should even be with the team in 2016.
Dallas Green, who managed the 1980 World Champion Phillies and is currently an advisor to the team, joined the 94 WIP morning show on Friday, and didn't mince words when asked about Howard.
"No, the days are over. I heard [general manager] Matt [Klentak] say, you know, obviously performance is what it is all about. Well he hasn't performed."
Green even went as far as suggesting that Howard needed to have an impressive Spring Training to stay with the club for the 2016 season.
“If he doesn’t perform in Spring Training, you’re backed up against the wall again. In fairness, Pete [Mackanin] has already come out and said he’s probably going to platoon most of the time, which is a fair deal — at least in his mind and the team’s mind. But the guy is still here and I think it’s time for somebody to grab him. If it’s an American League team or somebody that wants him, I know [general manager] Matt [Klentak] will work a deal that will be favorable to the team and it would be best for him to move on.”
The problem with this theory is that if it was as simple as Howard being traded to an American League team where he didn't have to field anymore, the Phillies would have traded Howard years ago. Howard, for the first time in his current contract, could become realistically trade-able this summer, but only if he is given the chance to perform. Even then, the Phillies will have to eat virtually all of his money, have Howard waive his 10-and-5 rights, and convince both the team he's going to and Howard that they will buy him out of his option for 2017.
With all of those moving parts, Howard may decide he would rather stay with the Phillies for the rest of the season, have the Phillies buy him out and then look for a new team after the season, rather than risk just being a rental for the rest of the 2016 season.
From the Phillies' perspective, both Darin Ruf and Brock Stassi have been impressive in Spring Training, while Howard has been sick, but there doesn't seem to be a scenario where Stassi is with the team to start the season. The Phillies could, in theory, release Howard, but given his place in the club's history, doing that in Spring Training would be a slap in the face to Howard. Klentak has been adamant about showing proper respect to Howard, and releasing him after camp wouldn't seem to fall under the respect umbrella.
So at least until this summer, Howard is going to be with the Phillies.
Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) is the Managing Editor of Philliedelphia.com, focusing on news and features.
