Keep the Piece!

Why trade Ryan Howard? There, I said it. I’m a big fan of the Big Piece. I respect what he’s done and, for the most part, how he’s handled it.

He’s a former Rookie of the Year. He’s a former National League MVP. He’s a World Phucking Champion.

Sure, he strikeouts way too much. He can hit left-handed pitching consistently and he’s drastically overpaid. However, what’s the point in trading him?

Salary cap space? The Phillies aren’t over the salary cap. They aren’t going to be over the salary cap. They aren’t cash-strapped. Actually, the new TV contact begins after this season. That contract is rumored to have Comcast pay an average of $100M/year for the next 25 years. Money isn’t an issue.

He’s blocking the development of other players? Who? Darin Ruf? Ruf isn’t an everyday major league baseball player, let alone first baseman. 27 year old Chris McGuiness in Lehigh, who has 5 HRs? Brock Stassi or Art Charles who each have 5 HRs this season? Charles did have 19 HRs in single A Clearwater last year, while hitting. .229.

He’s not blocking anyone. For a brief moment, I did believe Howard was blocking Maikel Franco at 1B as Asche was the Phillies’ future 3B. However, Asche is a below-average major league third baseman. Franco, on the other hand, has the perfect glove and arm for 3B. The Phillies have no one better to play 1B.

Trading Howard could help get studs for the Phillies’ future? Nope. Ask anyone in the know. They all concur that the best the Phillies get is the 8th or 9th best prospect in any team’s farm system. Nothing better, even if the Phillies pick up most of Ryan Howard’s contract. That’s less than a crap shoot. That’s no real help.

The Phillies aren’t going to be good for the next couple of years and that’s not going to be because Ryan Howard is on first base. He’s currently the hottest First Baseman in Major League Baseball. In the last 28 days, Howard is hitting .318n with 7-2Bs, 7-HRs, 14-RBIs. He’s showing power and confidence.

The Phillies are on the hook this year and next year. That’s not a terrible committment. He’s got a full no-trade clause so Howard can stay in Philadephia if he wishes. Ruben Amaro, Jr had stated that the Phillies were better without Ryan Howard. That doesn’t seem to be the case.

I’m a season ticket-holder. Howard and Hamels are the only reasons to go to the ballpark. Hamels is still a stud and Howard is the only Phillie capable of hitting anything out of the park with any consistency. Howard and Franco are the only two ever-day players that provide any level of excitement.

I, for one, would like to see them both playing the infield corners for the next year and a half. The Phillies have nothing to seriously gain by trading Howard, no matter how much you want to boo him. He’s Ryan Howard, not Adam Dunn. He’s proving that he can still produce. And, he’s proving that he’s worth keeping around for the next year and half. There just aren’t any better options. And, his draw and the excitement he’s able to create at Citizens Bank clearly outweighs the benefits of moving him.

Trade Papelbon, Hamels, and Harang. Those players should bring back prospects with some serious upside. Howard, not so much. The best thing for the Phillies to do is to simply KEEP THE PIECE for another year and a half.

KEEP THE PIECE.