CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Moments ago, assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. confirmed that Ryan Howard has won his arbitration case against the Phillies.It's a landmark decision.
Not only is the $10 million award the highest ever won in salary arbitration, but it comes during Howard's first year of arbitration eligibility. When Alfonso Soriano lost his arbitration case in 2006 and was awarded $10 million (he asked for $12 million), he was in his third arbitration go-around. Other significant awards were the $8.2 million won by Andruw Jones in 2001 (his second year of eligibility) and the $7.4 million won by Miguel Cabrera last year (in his first year of eligibility, but with more service time that Howard).
So, clearly, the Phillies' argument that Howard has limited major-league service time (less than three full seasons) and slots into baseball's economic structure at less than an eight-figure salary didn't hold water with arbitrators Stephen Goldberg, Robert Bailey and Jack Clarke. Those men, by the way, are mutually appointed by Major League Baseball and the players' association.
Interestingly, Amaro refused to discuss the likelihood that the Phillies would continue talking about a multiyear contract extension for Howard, claiming today's verdict was still "too fresh."
"This is not the time to start discussing the future with Ryan Howard," Amaro said. "The panel decided to make the decision, and we're going to go forward and get spring training going."
6 comments:
Good for the Big Man. Unless they had specific plans to use this $3 million in a deal to bring in Lohse tomorrow (unlikely), then there's no reason why everyone shouldn't have wanted it to go to Ryan Howard. He's had an unbelievable three years in the majors, and I'd rather see the money in this back pocket than in the man-purses of Phillies ownership.
This is bad news for the Phils and their fans because as much as I like RyHo, I like the Phils winning more. More money to Howard now means even more next and the year after and the year after that. This escalates with time. Instead of starting with $7mm to give Howard a raise next year (they always get raises in arbitration) now its $10mm. Judging from what we've heard from his agent, Howard wants big money, so this is only going to escalate as the years pass. Soriano got a 38% increase in his 2nd arbitration year. Which would you rather give 38% of $7mm or $10mm? If the Phils are pumping more money into Howard than there will be less to spend on other players (regardless of whether they would use the money this year), and thats what makes a better baseball team and wins more games.
I agree with the king above. Good for him--we've got chase locked up for a relative steal, rollins locked up for a relative steal, and have been getting the most production out of our bargain bin, pre-arb young stars. this guy is on another plane though--i, for one, attended twice as many summer phils games this past year with the hopes of seeing a towering homer--he's become the face of baseball and we owe it to him to pay him to stay with us, even if he's hitting sub 200 against lefties. (_)_):::::D
Actually, slugdog, a 38% increase on the salary of $7 million would amount to $9,660,000. Not a significant savings.
This just sets the bar for good young studs coming up in our system (ha!) and elsewhere. Put your time in, play far above average, and your money will definitely come. Howard's deal is now the measuring stick for all future arbitration cases with talented young players (Hanley Ramirez, anyone?). Good for the big guy, he had it coming. I think this will kick the Phillies into high gear in terms of signing him to a long-term deal before he becomes too expensive. Lock him up ASAP. Just like I said earlier this winter, Scott, the Phillies should've locked him up on the cheap before this case even happened.
King Myno, Slugdog, Cifuentj, Bertmurr and others: Great comments. Keep 'em coming.
One thing y'all should know: If Howard was willing to accept a seven-year, $100 million contract extension (which is what Pujols got from the Cardinals in '04), the Phillies certainly would lock him up to that sort of deal. But, from everything I've heard, Howard is looking for much, much, much more money than that. There's no advantage for any team, the Phillies or otherwise, to sign a player to a massive contract until the player becomes a free agent.
In exchange for the security of a long-term deal, Chase Utley took less money ($85 million over seven years) than he would've made through arbitration and free agency. Howard doesn't seem willing to give the Phillies a similar break. So, the Alfonso Soriano-like (eight years, $136 million) or even greater contract that Howard is looking for will have to wait until after 2011 when he becomes a free agent.
he wants arod money. so he wants 20m. do you want to pay 20+ million to a guy who you ahve locked up till he's 32? nope!
and this decision is HUGE. there was no precedent for it. they just escalated contracts a whole lot more.
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