Ryan Howard available

[gunnarthor]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/03/phils-willing-to-eat-about-50mm-of-howards-salary.html

 

So, Howard is owed 60m but the Phillies will eat 50 of that, so basically, Howard is available for 2 years at 5m each year.  But, obviously, the Phillies, with one of the worst farm systems in baseball, want real young talent back for him.  The Twins are also on Howard's no trade list so that would have to be worked out.  I would guess that the Phillies would want something like Rosario, Thorpe or Polanco - not a top 100 prospect but someone kind of close.

 

Howard was awful last year - .223/.310/.380 line and actually hit a little better against lefties than righties.  But only two years ago, he killed RH pitching - .302/.357/.522 and his power, even at 35, is fantastic.  So a team could bet on him being part of a DH platoon at 5m/year.  

 

I don't think he's a great fit in MN - anymore than I do Carter.  But at 5m/year, he could be a bench bat and a fall back if Vargas struggles, sort of like Thome in 2010 (although Thome was a bettter bet).  I think if the Twins were in a better position where they might be pushing for 90 wins instead of 80, he makes a bit more sense as a bench piece.  But I'd probably rather see what Vargas and Pinto can do and have Rosario and Hunter move around if need be.

[Mike Sixel]

He's not worth it for free. He's terrible. 

[nicksaviking]

Can he play CF?  If so then, well, still no.

[tobi0040]

He is nowhere near a lock to outperform Vargas, who is 22 or 23. He is 35. 

No thanks.  We need to give young guys reps, having both Hunter and Howard is silly.

[nicksaviking]

Besides, if the Phillies are willing to eat 83% of his salary, that probably means they will do anything to get him off the roster, which means they'll likely cut him in short order anyway.  They are probably just dangling this carrot to see if anyone will give them $10M before they cut bait completely. 

[Kwak]

Under those terms, it would be better for PHL to keep him--that would virtually guarantee that they get the best draft position for 2016.

 

The Twins?  Even if they paid $70MM of his $60MM contract it would be a mistake to take Howard.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I should hope Vargas gets a long leash this spring, and maybe both Buxton and Rosario man the OF so Torii can be a DH, bench bat, coach, or target field usher. I hear usher is really good job in retirement. The Twins don't need another Torii

[James]

Just the thought of the Twins trading for Howard makes me cringe.  

 

I can't imagine any scenario where he would be a good fit for this team.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I wouldn't take Howard if he was given to me.

[Willihammer]

Same deal as the Dodgers and Ethier. Even if they eat most of the salary, how much talent do they expect to come back? If they just want to clear him off the roster, he might make an interesting 1B/DH for someone at 2/10. Just not the Twins.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I wouldn't take Howard if he was given to me.

 

That's an interesting thought experiment....what industry would want him to do what, at this point? Like, if the Phillies traded him to, say, Wal Mart to be a greeter, or to the NFL to be a DL?

[IndyTwinsFan]

I wouldn't touch that one with a ten-foot pole.   Especially, if we had to give up a minor leaguer.

 

I don't think he really offers anything of substance that we don't already have, or will have sometime in the very near future.   I think we have more than enough DH-types already.   No need for another one.

[ashbury]

I wouldn't touch the ten-foot pole that touched it, even with another ten-foot pole.