On Wednesday, salary arbitrators awarded Phillies 1st baseman Ryan Howard the $10 million he had asked for the 2008 season vs the Phillies offer of $7 million.

The award stands as a landmark decision in the history of MLB salary arbitration proceedings. 

Howard, the powerful lefthanded hitting slugger who has pounded out the fastest 129 homers in MLB history and has driven in 353 runs in 2 1/2 seasons in the big leagues, will watch his bank account soar as he continues terrorizing opponents’ pitching with well-struck drives going ballpark to all fields. 

AP Sports writer Robert Maaddi notes for Yahoo sports;

Howard batted .268 with 47 homers and 136 RBIs last season in what was considered a down year for him. In 2006 he had 58 homers, 149 RBIs and a .313 average, one of the best seasons by a second-year player.

The 28-year-old first baseman has less than three years service time in the majors, partly because his path was blocked by Jim Thome. An injury to Thome during the 2005 season paved the way for Howard, who had 22 homers and 63 RBIs in just 88 games to win the NL Rookie of the Year award.

The case was decided by [Stephen] Goldberg, Robert Bailey and Jack Clarke. The panel listened for nearly five hours as each side presented its arguments Wednesday in St. Petersburg.

Howard was represented by his agent, Casey Close. Houston Astros president Tal Smith, who represents many teams, handled the Phillies’ side.

Howard’s 58 homers in 2006 set an MLB record for a 2nd year player.  The previous record was held by Ralph Kiner who hit 51 homers for the otherwise woeful Pittsburgh Pirates in 1947, his 2nd season in MLB.

Various media have reported the dimensions of the Howard arbitration decision.  ESPN’s Jayson Stark succinctly provides perspective regarding this ground-breaking decision in MLB salary arbitration history:

• The previous record for most dollars awarded to a player who won an arbitration hearing was $8.2 million, by Andruw Jones (as a player with four years of service) in 2001.

• The previous record for highest salary in history by a player who was arbitration-eligible for the first time was $7.4 million — set by Miguel Cabrera after he won his case against the  Marlins last year. But Cabrera had three-plus years of service at the time.

• Howard also tied Alfonso Soriano’s record for highest salary awarded to any player who went through an arbitration hearing. Soriano got $10 million two years ago from the  Nationals. But he actually lost — in a bid for $12 million.

• And until this ruling, the Phillies had been the only franchise in history that had never lost an arbitration hearing, for one thing. They were 7-0 all-time, having out-arbitrated an eclectic group consisting of Jerry Koosman,  Alan Knicely, Kevin Gross, Dickie Thon, Dale Sveum, Willie Banks and Travis Lee.

The main ESPN report notes;

Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team negotiated with Howard’s agent, Casey Close, about a contract “in a variety of lengths” as late as yesterday morning before the hearing at the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg. He said they thought they were close to a deal, but it’s uncertain how close.

“Close doesn’t get it done, though,” Amaro said.

It is believed reaching an agreement with Howard on a multiyear contract is going to be difficult. He could be seeking a contract far in excess of the seven-year, $100 million contract extension St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols received in 2004.

AP’s Maaddi adds these comments from Assistant GM Amaro Jr.;

“I’m sure he’s very pleased,” Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “This has been a negotiation that has been very amicable and very professional. It’s just a part of the process.”

As for Howard who didn’t get his long-term deal with the Phils but got the biggest 4th year - single season paycheck yet, ESPN’s Stark, in a must-read subsequent piece, writes;

Says his buddy Jimmy Rollins, it means he can afford that Aston Martin DB9 James Bond-mobile he’s had his eye on.

Suggested list price, in case you’re wondering: $168,000.

“Shoot,” Rollins laughed, “that’s two days salary for him now.”

Stark also provides an in-depth analysis of Why Howard won, what it means for both he and the Phillies and what it means for Major League Baseball as well as an illustration showing the impact of Howard’s production over his first 4 seasons in comparison with Mark McGwire, Willie Mays and others.

Philly.com’s Todd Zolecki notes that Howard seems to be taking the win in stride with his focus being on the 2008 season;

“It was some good news to start of the day,” Howard said after the team’s workout. “It’s a good feeling. It’s always a good feeling to win. But either way, it’s a win-win. It’s a substantial raise either way.”

Howard smiled easily as he talked on his cell phone outside the Phillies clubhouse. Teammate Jimmy Rollins gave him a high-five on his way back to his locker.

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Three week ago when the Phillies acquired 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz off of the Free Agency market for $ 8.5M over 2 years, my reaction was that Charlie Manuel can kiss his 3rd base problems goodbye. 

I see Feliz as slick with the glove, capable of high 20’s to 30’s in homers, particularly playing half of his games in Citizens Bank Park, near 100 RBIs and capable of hitting in the .270’s to .280’s.

Apparently, no less than all-time great and Hall of Fame 3rd baseman  Mike Schmidt would seem to agree with my assessment.

The News Journal’s Scott Lauber reports that Schmidt, who is spending the next two weeks as a spring training guest instructor, noted;

“He’s an impressive young man,” Schmidt said. “Tremendously impressive hands, good arm, good batting stroke. I think he’s going to be a big key for the club this year.”

“Just watching [Feliz] on TV, he caught my eye. I can see a good, solid fundamental hitter. I don’t know what his best year has been. I just know him as a mid-20s home run, 80-RBI guy. I don’t know if he’s ever gotten to 30 home runs or 100 RBIs, but he has that potential, without a doubt.”

So, it will be interesting to watch and see if Feliz lives up to regular 3rd base projections in the coming season.

In other spring training news, the punking of young pitcher Kyle Kendrick has received national notoriety.  Brett Myers and Kendrick were guests on the “The Today Show.”  After the hosts and guests shared guffaws about “The Trade”, Myers himself got “punked” of sorts. 

Near the end of the interview, Myers received the Soupy Sales treatment by way of a ’shaving cream pie in the face’ by projected starting centerfielder Shane Victorino as the Phillies again showed themselves to be loose, reminiscent (but without Mitch Williams) of the  Dykstra, “Dutch” Dalton and Kruk 1993 team which went to the World Series.  Check out this video about the day after the punking.

Well, today’s the day of the Ryan Howard salary arbitration hearing, but noone’s talking.

Howard has been low-key, concentrating on getting into shape for a big season, having report to spring training 15 pounds lighter than his overweight status last season and feeling far better than he felt last year when his season was disrupted by a quad injury.

The Yahoo sports Phillies Team Report notes;

“We’re just going to have to wait and see what happens,” Howard said about his thorny arbitration case.

There are no indications that the Phillies are close to an agreement with Casey Close, Howard’s Beverly Hills-based agent, so barring an 11th-hour settlement, Howard’s 2008 salary will be decided by a three-person panel of arbitrators. And an army of Phillies fans, disguised as amateur psychologists, is wary of the effect a hearing may have on Howard’s psyche.

But regardless of what gets said with Howard present at the arbitration table when the Phillies make their case for paying him less than he wants, the 2006 National League MVP insists it won’t change how he approaches his job.

Since the two sides were still unable to come up with a long-term deal as the clock struck 12, the fans and media in Philadelphia seem hoping that the Phils tank the hearing and let Howard win.

Inquirer columnist Phil Sheridan said it best;

If Howard gets his $10 million, he will finally be on the positive side of the ledger book, and that will shift the responsibility for what follows to Howard.

If he proves he’s worth the $10 million and more in the years to come, that will mean the Phillies got another great season from him. That big long-term deal will not look at all risky.

If Howard has a dropoff in production, the Phillies have an interesting decision to make. They could continue to work toward a long-term deal on the good-faith assumption that Howard will be worth it over his career, or they could return to the arbitration process without looking like tightwads.

Lose tomorrow and the Phillies make their fans happy, appease a superstar player, and set themselves up for a better relationship with him for years - all for $3 million.

Heck, that’s more than they got out of Rod Barajas last year.

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The second major lefthanded ace changed hands last week as Erik Bedard was traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Seattle Mariners in exchange a reliever and four prospects as the Orioles work on rebuilding.

The Associated Press report for ESPN notes;

A four-year veteran, Bedard was 28-16 with a 3.47 ERA over the last two seasons. Now, he is primed to earn at least $6 million in an arbitration hearing scheduled in the coming days. He could get tens of millions more in a multiyear contract Seattle has already started to discuss with Bedard’s representatives. He is under Seattle’s control for at least the next two seasons.

He said the Orioles never made a true effort to sign him to a long-term contract; MacPhail said Bedard never wanted to stay.

The addition of Bedard, 13-5, 3.16 ERA last season, along with righthanders Miguel Batista 16-11, 4.29 ERA and Felix Hernandez 14-7, 3.92 ERA and Carlos Silva 13-14, 4.19 ERA and fifth starter lefthander  Jarrod Washburn gives the Mariners one of the more formidable starting rotations in the entire AL.

Meanwhile the New York Yankees dodged arbitration by making a $30 million, 4-year deal with their 3rd year 2nd baseman Robinson Cano who hit 19 homers while driving in 97 runs, scoring 93 and hitting .306 in 160 games last season.  Cano, an All Star and runner-up for rookie of the year in 2006, also clubbed 41 doubles in 2007.

The AP report on the Cano deal for Yahoo sports discloses;

The deal is potentially worth $57 million over six seasons. The 25-year-old Cano will get $3 million this season, $6 million next year, $9 million in 2010 and $10 million in 2011. New York has a $14 million option for 2012 with a $2 million buyout. If that option is exercised, the Yankees would have a $15 million option for 2013 with a $2 million buyout.

The Colorado Rockies similarly dodged arbitration twice in signing both 3rd baseman Garrett Atkins and rightfielder Brad Hawpe.

Both players agreed to one year deals; Atkins’ is worth $4.38 million while Hawpe’s contract is worth $4.74 million.

Ticker’s report for Yahoo sports notes;

Atkins overcame a slow start last season to bat .301 with 25 home runs and 111 RBI, numbers that represented a slight regression from his breakout 2006 season - when he hit .329 with 29 homers and 120 RBI.

The 6-3 Atkins also struggled during the 2007 postseason for the reigning National League champion Rockies, batting just .175 (7-for-40) with one homer and three RBI in 11 games.

Atkins, 28, is a career .302 hitter with 68 homers and 332 RBI in parts of five seasons - all with the Rockies.

Hawpe, 28, exploded onto the scene in 2007, batting .291 and setting career highs with 29 homers and 116 RBI. Hawpe is a career .282 hitter with 63 home runs and 256 RBI in four seasons with Colorado.   

However, the Phillies and powerful 1st baseman Ryan Howard are still mired with a $3 million gap in their positions as Howard’s arbitration date of February 20 draws ever closer.  Howard seeks at least a 1 year deal for $10 million while the Phils hold stubbornly to the $7 million figure.  In a long-term deal, Howard seeks substantially more than 2nd baseman Chase Utley’s seven-year, $85-million contract and, according to people knowledge in the situation, he would be looking for salaries in the $20 million range in the final years of the deal.

It’s very possible that the arbitration process could get nasty and that the Phils risk alienating Howard, their chief power source, as Spring Training gets under way and on the eve of a concerted drive to repeat in the NL East and to advance to the World Series.  It is unfortunate that the Phillies appear to be taking a detached position in the matter — “It’s just business.”

Howard has pounded 129 homers, driven in 353 runs and carries a cumulative .291 BA through 3 seasons.  But on the negative side, the lefthanded slugger has struck out 493 times or in nearly 1/3 of his plate appearances.  The strike outs are something that Howard has to work hard on to severely curtail.

It would be best if the two sides came to a mutually beneficial long-term deal before the arbitration clock hits 12.

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