Ryan Howard signs a book for Nicholas Erbele. Photo courtesy Matt Erbele
We are less than two weeks away from when pitchers and catchers hold their first official workouts at Phillies Spring Training. Some players are already on their way to Florida. While Phillies general manager has publicly stated that the Phillies are better without him than with him, first baseman Ryan Howard is still a Phillie and figures to break camp. So, what should the Phillies do with him?
First and foremost, the Phillies should see if Howard is indeed finally healthy. At Howard's Little Rhino book signing last night, Howard looked slimmer than he has in many years. The achilles injury Howard suffered kept him far from nimble. Howard was this big in his first rehab game in Lakewood back in 2012. Could Howard finally be closer to his old self?
The achilles injury is one of the most brutal in sports. Howard rushed back in 2012 and still was not himself in 2013 and 2014. Instead of firmly planting his feet, Howard's swing was all in his upper body. In some respects, Howard's output in 2014 was pretty impressive, given that he was not fully planting his feet. Should Howard be more nimble, the Phillies could more easily trade Howard, or get more value for him.
Second, the Phillies should use Howard in the way that best maximizes Howard's value to the team and to other teams. That could mean that the Phillies finally, once and for all, platoon Howard with Darin Ruf at first base. Howard was mostly the same against lefties as he was righties/leaning better against lefties in 2014. Looking at Howard's 2012, 2013, and 2014 combined, Howard's OPS was .743 against left-handed pitchers to .669 right-handed pitchers.
Potential platoon partner Darin Ruf's numbers against left-handed pitchers trumped right-handed pitchers in a major way. In 2014, Ruf posted a .917 OPS against left-handed pitching. Facing right-handed pitching, Ruf posted an OPS of .387. Over the same three-year period as Howard, Ruf was .837 to .784. Better indeed, but Ruf is clearly more effective against left-handed pitching.
Third, the front office should not interfere with manager Ryne Sandberg's lineup construction. When Sandberg publicly stated that Howard would sit, the front office promptly called Sandberg and ordered him to play Howard. If either point one or point two do not work out, Sandberg needs the flexibility to play other players instead or bat Howard at any point in the lineup that he so chooses. The days of Howard starting every day of the week batting fourth need to end.
If points one and two work out and Howard is showing value, the Phillies will be in a better position to trade him. Howard will vest 10 and 5 status on May 2nd, giving Howard the ability to veto any trade. Howard's current trade list comprised of all American League teams shows that Howard is aware that he could have better success in a designated hitter situation. Howard would not stand in the way of a trade.
It may take until next offseason, but if Howard proves some value to a team and acquires him next offseason, he will have just one year left on his contract. That would be much easier to move. If Howard fails in 2015 as a healthy platoon player, then they will have to cut him. But for now, the Phillies should play him, using him to his strengths and alongside the team's strength.
