Ryan Howard

[Andy]

About to sign a 5 year - $125 million contract extension. He's currently signed through 2011. Extension would be 2012 - 2016.

Scratch one from the list of 2012 Free Agent 1B (Pujols, Fielder & AGonzalez).

[dk123]

<!--quoteo(post=92790:date=Apr 26 2010, 01:29 PM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ Apr 26 2010, 01:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->About to sign a 5 year - $125 million contract extension. He's currently signed through 2011. Extension would be 2012 - 2016.

Scratch one from the list of 2012 Free Agent 1B (Pujols, Fielder & AGonzalez).<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wow, that's some serious money...

[rok]

Damn, he will be almost 37 when the deal is up. People forget that he isn't a kid anymore. He is already 30. That is way too much money IMO.

[kbwsb]

That is a crazy-bad deal for Philly. I love Howard, and I understand that he's the face of a franchise that just went to two straight World Series.
But his body-type doesn't age well, he's already older than Pujols, he doesn't field his position well <i>now</i>, and his biggest perceived strength is getting RBI's, which is a TEAM stat.

That said, this is good for the Cubs. It strangles the best team in the NL, and it makes it that much harder for the Cards to <i>not</i> give Pujols a stupendous amount of cash, thus hindering their flexibility. So, I guess, fuck yeah!

[jstraw]

When it's time for him to go DH in the NL, Philly will be paying part of the freight.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=92794:date=Apr 26 2010, 02:00 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 26 2010, 02:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->That is a crazy-bad deal for Philly. I love Howard, and I understand that he's the face of a franchise that just went to two straight World Series.
But his body-type doesn't age well, he's already older than Pujols, he doesn't field his position well <i>now</i>, and his biggest perceived strength is getting RBI's, which is a TEAM stat.

That said, this is good for the Cubs. It strangles the best team in the NL, and it makes it that much harder for the Cards to <i>not</i> give Pujols a stupendous amount of cash, thus hindering their flexibility. So, I guess, fuck yeah!<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The last part is what makes me most happy. Pujols is going to get a deal that makes the Texeira and ARod deals look like pocket change in comparison.

[Andy]

I've been saying for a while that St. Louis is going to be screwed with the Pujols contract. They either have to sign him for upwards to $30 mil per season or lose him.

Let's say on the low end he gets $25 mil per season. That puts nearly $60 mil of their $95 mil payroll into 3 players (Pujols, Holliday & Carpenter). It's going to make them a much weaker team with little money to put into free agents.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=92802:date=Apr 26 2010, 03:01 PM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ Apr 26 2010, 03:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I've been saying for a while that St. Louis is going to be screwed with the Pujols contract. They either have to sign him for upwards to $30 mil per season or lose him.

Let's say on the low end he gets $25 mil per season. That puts nearly $60 mil of their $95 mil payroll into 3 players (Pujols, Holliday & Carpenter). It's going to make them a much weaker team with little money to put into free agents.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And they probably have to figure out a way to lock up both Wainwright and Molina in the near future or risk losing them to free agency. They could end up with $120mil+ of their payroll just for 6-7 players. Please happen.

[ruby23]

I like the way this thread is headed.

[Butcher]

I can't imagine the Cardinals letting Pujols walk. It would be an absolute PR nightmare for that team.

[kbwsb]

<!--quoteo(post=92805:date=Apr 26 2010, 03:23 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 26 2010, 03:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I can't imagine the Cardinals letting Pujols walk. It would be an absolute PR nightmare for that team.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Me neither. Neither does Pujols's agent, which is why $30 million a year, for at least 6-7 years seems like a <i>starting </i>point.
Good for the Cubs (especially since they already way overpaid for Holliday).

[Destined]

So the 2011-2012 Offseason is going to be like the 2010 NBA Summer of Greed?

[kbwsb]

I really do think this contract is <i>insane</i>.
OTOH, he's probably the most popular player in Philly since...? I mean, they even use to boo Mike freaking Schmidt. It's a tough city to play for, and he's won them over. So there's that.

There's also this: it's naturally assumed that he benefits from the home bandbox he plays in, but the stats say differently. He actually hits better <i>on the road</i>. Weird.

Maybe the Phils are drowning in cash, and wanted to throw some around. But if that's the case, why the hell didn't they pony up for Cliff Lee?

Anyway, as seen through the Cub-prism, I see this as a good thing. Indeed, all over the web, all anyone is talking about is "Fuck, if Howard is worth 25 mil per season, Pujols is worth 35..."
Nothing better for us than to have the Phillies and the Tards over a barrel financially, especially since it's just to keep guys they already had.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->OTOH, he's probably the most popular player in Philly since...?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

He's not even the most popular player on his current team. Chase Utley is more popular, 10 times over.

[kbwsb]

<!--quoteo(post=92828:date=Apr 26 2010, 06:01 PM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 26 2010, 06:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->OTOH, he's probably the most popular player in Philly since...?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He's not even the most popular player on his current team. Chase Utley is more popular, 10 times over.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Utley is also more valuable on the field.