Its Hot Stove Season And Ryan Howard Is The Most Coveted Name Out There
The Trade Deadline is fast approaching, so of course we are hearing Ryan Howard’s name being connected to potential American League suitors. We have this conversation every year and it’s one I never get tired of. Since Ryan Howard signed his team friendly $125M contract back in 2010, he has been “drawing interest” from American League teams since. Now in 2016 and just 36 years young, Howard’s name is more coveted than ever. In the final year of his affordable contract ($9.2m remaining this season + $10m buyout for next season), the 10/5 rights, and .594 OPS, American League teams are salivating while they wait to pull the trigger.
Personally, I am a huge Ryan Howard guy. Always have been and always will be. The image of him rolling around in pain while the Cardinals celebrate winning the 2011 NLDS will forever be ingrained in my mind. In the words of Don McLean it was “The day the music died.” Howard has given too much to this city and deserves to be rewarded. A World Series and most recently, an Urban Youth Academy where he plans to make baseball fun again amongst for inner-city kids, just to name a few. How can I forget his infectious smile and epic nostrils that will one day be engraved in the prestigious Phillies Wall of Fame.
Proud to partner w/Ryan Howard & Big Piece to open Urban Youth Academy, safe place for kids to nurture ? of baseball pic.twitter.com/MsUHIWhiqf
— Jim Kenney (@PhillyMayor) July 21, 2016
So if these rumors are in fact true, what type of value could Ryan Howard have for an American League team? The obvious is that he has the playoff experience (46 G, 8 HR, .854 OPS) that a young team like the Indians could use coming off their bench. He will basically serve as a Matt Stairs type. The type of guy that was a late season roster addition that can deliver off the bench in a clutch situation. A guy who has been in the spotlight before and more importantly, can send a fastball “Into the night.” That’s really the only sales pitch Matt Klentak has when shopping Howard. My question as a rival GM would be, well what if they throw him a curveball?
We all know Ryan Howard’s numbers aren’t good and even more disturbing are his stats on an 0-2 count.
Ryan Howard is 0-44 with 30 K’s with an 0-2 count this year, ay caramba.
— 975TheFanatic (@975TheFanatic) July 26, 2016
Ryan Howard’s name will be way more attractive when the rosters expand in September, so if something does happen, I will assume it will come after the Non-Waiver Trade Deadline. The only thing we can really do as a Phillies fan is sit and wait. It’s the same gossip every year and more than likely, nothing will transpire. Let’s just wish Howard the best in his final months and if he does in fact get moved to an American League team in the playoff picture, let’s hope he will have the opportunity to deliver them a Matt Stairs moment.