Philadelphia Phillies: Ryan Howard making waiver trade pitch

While his overall offensive statistics aren’t impressive, a targeted contender still might be willing to trade with the Philadelphia Phillies for Ryan Howard‘s still somewhat potent left-handed stick.

Ryan Howard is certainly playing in his final Philadelphia Phillies’ year. The fourteenth career grand slam he lofted against the Colorado Rockies last week may prove to be his final red pinstriped power hurrah. Whether 2016 also becomes the last season of his career remains to be seen. But, lingering opinions that projected the formerly feared slugger would have zero trade value this summer could be proven wrong by the time the waiver deadline arrives on August 31.

Various baseball observers criticized former general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. from the moment he extended Howard’s contract in April 2010. The ‘Big Piece’ had a three-year, $54 million contract extension in place at the time. The secondary $125 million extension took effect in 2012, gaving him annual payouts of $20 million in 2012 and 2013, and $25 million from 2014-2016. The deal also included a $23 million team option for 2017, with a $10 million buyout. Howard was 30 when he happily signed that mega-deal. His age and body type combined to make that major investment an ongoing debate topic, even as he moves toward his thirty-seventh birthday in November.

The devastating left Achilles tendon tear Howard subsequently suffered at the exact end of the 2011 National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals dramatically reduced his ability to produce consistent offensive results. He hit 286 home runs from 2004, his debut season, through 2011. He’s only hit 88 home runs during the past four-plus seasons. Howard’s OPS also dropped from .928, during the pre-injury part of his career, to .715 since.

Splits matter in baseball. As a mostly strict platoon player this season, Howard’s only hitting .205 off right-handers and a miniscule .115 against left-handers. But, he’s also hit 16 of his 17 home runs and generated a passable .718 OPS off right-handers this year. Howard’s career production numbers skew better in the second-half of past seasons. During his last 30 games this year, he’s hit seven home runs and generated a .903 OPS.

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Six years and four months after the still-largest contract in franchise history was awarded, Howard is still owed approximately $16 million. That figure includes the team’s option to buy him out at the end of the season. During the past few years it’s been widely known that the Phillies have been willing to include a significant amount of money in any proposed transaction that would send ‘Howie’ packing. Current GM Matt Klentak has likely maintained that approach in the hopes of possibly obtaining a modest, lower-level minor leaguer in any completed waiver trade.

Acquiring Howard with less than 50 regular season games left in the season wouldn’t represent a great risk for any playoff contender. Money matters have become generally negligible. Obviously, an American League team remains the most logical fit for a man who can’t play first base proficiently.

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Through 60 appearances in the field this season, Howard’s .985 fielding percentage and 7.67 range factor per game fall below his career averages. But, his ability to hit the ball out of the park against right-handed pitching might still be intriguing to teams in need of his specific left-handed power service.