Howard situation looms over Phillies
PHILADELPHIA – Sitting on the Philadelphia Phillies' bench before Friday's game, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. could not escape the Ryan Howard saga.
Amaro was peppered with questions about Howard's current and future status with the Phillies, and he tried to deftly handle the scrutiny of how the organization is going to approach the situation.
Manager Ryne Sandberg started Darin Ruf at first base Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, forcing Howard to the bench for the third consecutive game. Although Amaro acknowledged he had spoken with Sandberg about Howard recently, he put the decision to sit Howard on Sandberg.
"Well you'll have to ask [Sandberg] about it," Amaro said of giving Howard a break. "I'm sure he toiled with it, but that wasn't really my decision. As I said, I don't make lineup changes or anything like that. I have suggestions, obviously. These are things that we empower our manager to do."
By "empowering" Sandberg, it takes some of the pressure off Amaro, though he remains responsible for Howard's unmovable contract. Amaro offered his support of Sandberg's decision and believes there is still a role for him on the team.
"I think it's trying to get him right again," Amaro said. "Right now he's struggling. And I just think [Sandberg] is trying to get him some time, let him mentally get regrouped. Listen, everyone needs a break. And I think that's more of what this is about than anything else. All of us want Ryan to be back and for Ryan to be as productive as he can be. I think that's the goal."
Amaro dismissed the notion that the Phillies are considering releasing Howard, which he explained would "not be in our best interest" and is something the organization has not discussed. That's an understandable stance considering the Phillies would still owe Howard at least $60 million for the next three years if they released him.
However, Amaro went as far as to say Howard still has a place with the Phillies next season. But given Howard's frustrations with the situation – Sandberg said he talked to him Thursday and Friday about the change in playing time, admitting Howard was upset at not being in Thursday's lineup – it's difficult to envision a harmonious union going forward.
While Howard has garnered most of the attention the last few days, one of his teammate's added to the Phillies' 2015 payroll situation on Friday. With his second-inning plate appearance, shortstop Jimmy Rollins' $11 million vesting option for next season became guaranteed by having 1,100 plate appearances between 2013-14. Part of that now vested option staying guaranteed includes Rollins not ending this season on the disabled list.
"I think he's playing shortstop about as good as I would expect," Sandberg said of Rollins. "He's improved his arm this year, which has shown on balls in the hole. He's moving around real good at shortstop. Running the bases well. He's added a good eye to his approach at home plate. Resulted in some walks and on-base percentage. And overall, he's been a consistent threat and force at the top of the order."
Rollins' $11 million option brings the Phillies' 2015 payroll to $138 million with only 10 players officially under contract as of right now. Amaro said he anticipates the Phillies being active ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and given their record – 14 games under .500 entering Friday – Philadelphia needs to shed payroll and get good prospects in return to beef up a meager minor league system that has few players pushing those on the big league roster.
That is part of the Phillies' problem. With not much Double-A and Triple-A quality talent, most of the players' jobs are secure at the big-league level with no pressure coming from prospects. It puts Sandberg in a tough spot in a clubhouse laden with veteran players.
The Phillies are spinning Howard's mental break as an opportunity for Ruf to get playing time at first base and much-needed at-bats. But if he doesn't capitalize on the opportunity – he's hitting .118 through 10 games this season – and win the job at first base, the Howard situation becomes more complex.
The Phillies can only hope Howard is rejuvenated during his absence from the lineup, otherwise Amaro has a $60 million headache he will have to deal with at the very least for the next two months.
"Listen, everybody's being evaluated," Amaro said. "That's part of baseball. We're all scrutinized and evaluated. I fully expect [Howard] to be our first baseman next year. Hopefully he's a very productive one."
Contact Meghan Montemurro at mmontemurro@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter at @M_Montemurro.