The Philadelphia Phillies desperately want to move Ryan Howard, even if they have to eat the large majority of his contract and get not much of anything in return. They may have found a suitor – the 2014 AL champion Kansas City Royals. DH Billy Butler is a free agent this winter, and Kansas City could want to replace him with Howard, a native Missourian. Via USA Today’s Bob Nightengale…
[The Phillies] are intent on dumping first baseman Ryan Howard and the remaining $60 million on his contract, but after finding no takers during the season, they have surprising interest from a small-market club with one baseball’s lowest payrolls.
The Royals.
The Royals aren’t about to rip up their payroll, and David Glass suddenly isn’t about to go all Steinbrenner on us, but if the Phillies are willing to eat most of the contract, the Royals have had internal discussions about acquiring him.
They believe he just might be the perfect fit to replace Billy Butler as their everyday DH, and considering they didn’t have a single player hit 20 homers or drive in 75 runs last year, he may be the power threat the Royals need to return to the World Series.
Get out your paper bags and start breathing, Philly – the process to move Howard may have picked up some steam.
Howard hit .223/.310/.380 with 23 homers in 2014. He’s still owed $60 million over the next two seasons, including a $10 million buyout on a $23 million club option for 2017.
