Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Ryan Howard: He Left the Door Wide Open...

Ryan Howard signed a five year contract extension with the Philadelphia Phillies that is worth at least $125 million. Howard was scheduled to be a free agent after the 2011 season, joining the likes of other first basemen Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, and Prince Fielder. It's as if all the fruit got ripe at the same time. At least for the other three, Howard made sure the bar was set at a high price level. Pujols, arguably the best of the bunch, will command at least $30 million per year. Gonzalez and Fielder will both be on a level very close to Howard's $25 million annual take. The Cardinals will have to come up with the money for Pujols. He has too many productive years left to allow him to leave St. Louis. San Diego is already shopping Gonzalez around, with the Braves and Red Sox rumored to be a couple of the interested parties. Fielder is the straw that stirs the drink in Milwaukee. He and the Brewers will work out a deal to keep the stout first baseman around for awhile. Now that Howard has made this $100 million first baseman club so accessible, it will be interesting to keep an eye on these guys until the next three deals get done. There are three clubs out there who are going to have to give up some serious cash. Stay tuned...

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