Howard’s Contract: Updated

The Phillies released the terms of the deal a little bit earlier . Ryan is already in the midst of a 3-year $54 million deal in which he will make $19 mil this year and $20 mil next year. The extension kicks in in 2012, when he will make $20 million. The same goes for 2013. From 2014-16, he gets bumped up to $25 million a year.

There is also an option for 2017 worth $23 million with a $10 million buyout. The contract comes with some no-trade protection and bonuses for awards.

Todd Zolecki has some really good insight up on his blog The Zo Zone about the deal.

If you don’t feel like reading it, basically what he says is that we could have done what we did; take a big risk throwing a ton of money at Howard and ensuring that we have him for the long haul; or have his contract end next year and take the chance of having him leave for the big payday (presumably to the Yankees because they’re douchebags.)

I would like to take this opportunity to recant my previous post saying I didn’t like the deal. It’s the first time it has happened on here, but knowing me, you can bet your ass it’s not gonna be the last. You can all make fun of me now.

Touche, Ruben Amaro. I don’t know why I doubted you.