Jan. 22 -- GILLICK ON HOWARD

"We're open to anything, a one-year deal, a three-year deal. We're going

to make every attempt to get something done prior to the hearing.

Hopefully, we can get a meeting of the minds."
-Phillies' GM Pat Gillick

So, I spent part of my day at The Bank, where Brett Myers, Shane Victorino, J.C. Romero and Charlie Manuel hopped aboard the Phillies' promotional tour. Even center-field prospect Greg Golson and newly acquired outfielder Chris Snelling dropped by. So did Pat Gillick, and for a few minutes, I had a chance to talk to him about the "Great Ryan Howard Arbitration Debate."

As the clock ticks toward an arbitration hearing next month, Gillick said assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. continues the unenviable (that's my word, not Gillick's) job of negotiating with Casey Close, Howard's rep at the powerhouse Beverly Hills-based Creative Artists Agency. Although the sides are $3 million apart (Howard wants $10 million; the Phillies are offering $7 million, matching the highest offer for a first-year arbitration-eligible player), Gillick is optimistic that the sides will be able to reach an agreement before a hearing. But he also said the Phillies aren't afraid of the arbitration table and said the perception that these hearings are often contentious is inaccurate. (Still, if it's such a pleasant experience, why have 88 percent of players who filed for arbitration from 1974 through 2006 settled their cases without going to a hearing?).

"It's not anything that difficult," Gillick insisted. "All it is, is a difference of opinion on numbers. The club thinks its number is appropriate, and the player thinks his number is appropriate. It's not about bashing anybody. It's just about talking about what number is more appropriate. I don't see it as a problem."

Interestingly, Gillick said the Phillies haven't ruled out a long-term contract for Howard. But he also indicated that Howard's major-league service time (only 2 years, 145 days, which qualifies him as a "Super Two" player with four years of arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent) may mean that he has to wait another year for an extension. Asked if Howard's $10 million demand is excessive, Gillick said, "I wouldn't say it's out of whack. Would you say $7 million is out of whack? You have to look at service and the industry and what's appropriate for a player who's a Super Two, and then, you can make your own determination of what's appropriate. Really, at this point, our feeling is the $7 [million] is the more appropriate number. But again, if you don’t have confidence in yourself, who’s going to have confidence in you? I’m glad to see Ryan has confidence in himself, and they put out a number that he thinks is indicative of his ability."

Finally, I asked Gillick how he'd evaluate Howard's somewhat complex 2007 season. On one hand, Howard hit 47 homers and drove in 136 runs. On the other, he set a major-league record with 199 strikeouts, saw his batting average fall 45 points from 2006 and committed 12 errors, second-most by a first baseman. "Starting out, he didn't think and we didn't think the injury he had was that significant," Gillick said, referring to the strained left quad that hobbled Howard in April and early May. "But I think it impacted him and how much work he could actually do in spring training. Up until the time he went on the disabled list [in May], he was having some trouble. Had he been healthy, I think he would've put up more offensive numbers and defensively he would've played better."

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The Phillies wouldn't have minded keeping Myers in the closer role and Victorino in right field. But, out of necessity, they have made some compromises that they believe actually will make them a better team. Time will tell.