Ryan Asks for $18M, See you in Court!

Ryan Howard has asked the Phillies for $18 million. The Phillies offered him $14 million.

Shane Victorino and Joe Blanton each signed one-year deals to avoid arbitration for $3.125 and $5.475 million respectively.

The moves to take care of Victorino and Blanton were great moves. Both guys will get more when they're time comes, but even like Cole Hamels, they understand their time and money will come.

Ryan Howard, you are ridiculous. Sure you hit home runs, BUT your biggest argument is your RBIs. RBIs happen because of the people in front of you. When you're hitting behind Rollins, Victorino, and Utley you should have a lot of RBIs. His OBP, SLG, OPS, and walks are all trending down along with his batting average. You know he'll hit 45-50 home runs and knock in 130-150 RBIs, but a lot of it has to do with his opportunities.

Actually, the reality of it is, you cannot blame him for asking. With the Phillies offering a more respectable $14 million this time, I do not see Ryan Howard winning arbitration. He might get $15 million, but he's getting in to an area where no one is going to be able to afford to pay him. Not even the Yankees unless they sign an aging, weight-gaining Ryan Howard to be their DH. The smartest thing for the Phillies to do would be to offer Howard a 4 year, $80 million deal and be done with him once the contract was up.

We know he produces well with our lineup, so for both parties, that may be the best move. Expensive now, but cheaper later.