The Phillies hope that when Spring Training breaks in just under two months, Ryan Howard will play for another team. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. said as much a couple weeks ago on the Mike Missanelli show. Some have questioned why a team would devalue a player in such a manner. The reality is: there is no secret that the Phillies need to free first base for either Chase Utley or Maikel Franco, or whoever else in the team's quest to get younger. Howard's value is also equally clear. Thus, it is perfectly okay for the Phillies to be frank with Howard (and everyone else for that matter) about the team's plans.
Nick Cafardo wrote in his Sunday "Baseball Notes" for the Boston Globe":
At some point, the Phillies must come to the conclusion they have to release Howard and eat more than $60 million. GM Ruben Amaro is on record as saying the team is better off without Howard, even though he knocked in 95 runs last season. When will that point come? And will anyone take a shot if he is free? The answer, according to one GM, is yes; an American League team would use Howard as a DH.
Cafardo suggests that Howard makes some sense for the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays would be a good fit for both Howard and for the Rays. No member of the Rays other than Evan Longoria can hit a home run. Howard has shown he can still exhibit some signs of power (though of course he is not what he once was) and his left-handed bat could slot behind Longoria in the Rays lineup. Howard's bottom half that has failed him since he ruptured his achillies in 2011, and serving as designated hitter could help keep up his productivity.
For Howard personally, the Rays are a good geographical fit. Howard's monstrous home is just 30 minutes from where the Rays play in St. Petersburg, meaning he can live in his home much of the year. Howard probably envisioned being a Phillie forever when he built the home in Bellaire Shore. The house has been under construction for years, but is just about ready to be Howard's primary home.
Has Howard's value been hurt by all this talk? Not really. If the Phillies are willing to eat $50 million of the $60 million like many have speculated, then teams know that they can get a player who is currently a designated hitter who might give them 20 home runs and 80 RBI, if not a little bit more. At $5 million a year, there is some value in that, particularly if your team is low-budget and has no other source of power.
Teams know who Ryan Howard is, and they know what their ideal acquisition will be. What likely will happen is that teams are going to pursue their plan A. Once plan A is off the market, Howard would be the among next line of players teams will consider. For teams like the Rays or even the Baltimore Orioles, who could use a left-handed designated hitter to go along with right-handed Delmon Young, that may be latter. If a team like the Orioles is hoping for Jonny Gomes and he signs with the Cubs, maybe they will turn their attention to Howard.
The deal could be complicated. The Phillies may take some money off of the other team's hands, too. Do you want Ubaldo Jimenez on the Phillies? The Orioles are regretting that deal. The Rays would love to unload Grant Balfour. The Phillies and whoever takes Ryan Howard will have to sort through all these issues. This will take time.
At the end of the day, even as Howard takes home bags of money, the Phillies will still have a World Series championship thanks to Howard's effort. That can never be taken away from them. Thus, out of respect for Howard, the Phillies have no problem being up front with his situation and that of the rebuilding Phillies.
