Report: Phillies 1B Ryan Howard can block trades to 20 teams
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard remains on the trade block, but according to the terms of his five-year, $125 million contract, he can block deals to 20 teams, reports Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.
That leaves only nine teams to which Howard can be dealt without the possibility of the 35-year-old exercising his block.
According to the report, the teams are: the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox.
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Howard is owed $25 million the next two seasons, with a $23 million club option for 2017. He also has a $10 million buyout in 2017, so Philadelphia is on the hook for at least $60 million in salary it has to pay Howard.
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Howard hit .223 with 23 home runs and 95 RBIs in 153 games last season and led the major leagues with 190 strikeouts. He had career-lows in slugging and OPS.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said that he talked to Howard about his future with the team.
"And I told him that in our situation it would probably bode better for the organization not with him but without him. With that said, if he's with us, then we'll work around him.” Amaro told 97.5 The Fanatic.
Howard is a career .265 hitter with 334 home runs and 1,058 RBIs and has struck out 1,591 times in 10 MLB seasons.
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