The Phillies Ryan Howard decided it was worth and renewed his contract and now Howard would be receiving a salary of $ 900,000. This measure was taken after both Phillies and Howard could not reach agreement on a long term contract.
This salary Howard has offered to match the largest base salary in a one-year contract for a player who is eligible for arbitration. St Louis Cardinals had Albert Pujols offered a one-year contract in 2003, which was worth $ 900,000. This contract also includes a bonus of $ 50,000 for what the All-Star team that Pujols did.
Howard had a salary of $ 355,000 last year and said he was disappointed that the Phillies and was unable to reach a long-term. However, he was ready to begin the season.
Howard has set a record to get a higher salary in a one-year contract for a player who has less than two years of playing time in the majors. In 1999 and 2000, the Chicago Cubs Kerry Wood gave $ 690,000. Wood had only 169 days of major league service.
Ruben Amaro Jr., Phillies assistant general manager, said that the Howard contract renewal was fair. This renovation was carried out during the period of 10 days when the teams are busy renewing the contracts of players on the team list, but have not signed at the time.
Last season, Howard averaged .313 with 58 homers and 149 RBIs. In the offseason, he changed agents and is now represented by Casey Close.