$10m payday..

[jiminphilly]

Howard wins arbitration case
Phillies star first baseman will earn $10 million in '08
Posted: Thursday February 21, 2008 9:33AM; Updated: Thursday February 21, 2008 9:56AM



Ryan Howard tied Alfonso Soriano for largest salary awarded through arbitration.
AP


By Jon Heyman, SI.com

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has won his arbitration case and will receive a $10 million salary this season, SI.com has learned.

Philadelphia submitted a $7 million offer for the 2008 season, but the arbitration panel ruled in the 28-year-old's favor. The new eight-figure salary is a significant raise from last season, when Howard earned just $900,000.

Considering the extremely low success rate players have had in the past, baseball people believe this could be a landmark case in arbitration hearings.

Howard burst on the scene in 2005, winning National League Rookie of the Year award, despite playing just 88 games. He followed up that season by winning the NL MVP, hitting .313 with 58 homers and 149 RBIs. Last year, Howard helped guide Philadelphia to its first NL East title since '93, with a .268 average, 47 home runs and 136 RBIs

This isn't good news. Howard won't be getting a long term deal and the notoriously cheap Phillies would never commit the kind of coin to keep this guy around (figure $15-$18m in 3-4 years time).