Phillies Offseason Talk

[BigEd76]

anybody know whats left on howards deal?

might want to extend him now that he's the man.

2 more minimum contracts, then 3 arbitration years, so he'll be here for at least 5 more years unless he's traded....

[NGM]

Don't you think the Phillies would lock him up to a longer contract if he has another year like last year?

[PhillyGirl]

And 200 strike outs 

And what exactly does Thome do?

[rjs246]

Do any of you space cases actually think that Howard will hit 50 HRs next year? I mean, seriously. give me a break.

[Geowhizzer]

Do any of you space cases actually think that Howard will hit 50 HRs next year? I mean, seriously. give me a break.

Of course not.






He's going to hit 60! 

[NGM]

Do any of you space cases actually think that Howard will hit 50 HRs next year? I mean, seriously. give me a break.

I don't think 40-45 is outside the realm of possibility.

[PhillyGirl]

Do any of you space cases actually think that Howard will hit 50 HRs next year? I mean, seriously. give me a break.

I don't think 40-45 is outside the realm of possibility.

Ditto. Far more upside than Thome (and I am a HUGE Thome fan). This kid has the potential to do this for years to come, Thome doesn't. I wish him the best, but we're done with his contract and now have some room to maneuver.

[Rome]

Barring injury, Howard will be the Phillies first baseman for the next 10 years or more.

Man... Howard, Rollins, Utley for 10 or more years together.

Just think of that.

[PhillyGirl]

I already like Gillick.

Wade would have never have had the balls to make the trade. We all know this.

[Rome]

If Gillick keeps this shtein up, I'm going to have to write him a letter of apology.

[BigEd76]

Don't you think the Phillies would lock him up to a longer contract if he has another year like last year?

It's not like the NFL.  They don't need to give him a long-term deal for at least 2 more years.  They might give him one in 3 years to cover his arbitration years, but they don't need to do anything now.  That's why it's not a big deal to pay as much as they did in the Thome deal.  That's money that would have been used on a $6M-$8M first baseman each year anyway, but instead, they only have to pay Howard about $500K....

[PhillyPhreak54]

1. I'm sad to see Thome go because he was a classy dude. I'll never forget when we signed him and the whole hoopla associated with it.

2. I hope he goes to Chicago and tears it up so the morons who blasted him in this city and turned their backs on him feel like a buncha iceholes. Thome is another star who was turned on in Philadelphia. Add him to the list.

3. I like the trade. I do not want Rowand traded for some loser like Carl Pavano.

4. I like that they're only paying half of his salary.

5. The fact that they got 2 LHP prospects and a great defensive CF is nice.

6. Ryan Howard's presence is what keeps me from hating this trade. He's going to be a stud.

[Geowhizzer]

I'll miss Thome.  He's a good player, and a good guy.

At least we'll have someone in CF that can go get the ball. Bobby won't have to risk breaking a nail going "all out" for some of those balls anymore. 

Love the fact that we got two young pitchers in the deal.  Can't have enough of those. 

[Rome]

Why would anyone hate Jim Thome in Philly?

Seriously.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Gio Gonzalez's stats

Daniel Haighwood's stats

Rowand + Gonzalez + Haighwood + Howard full time = Phreak likey even more.

Now they can use Abreu & Hamels/Floyd/one of these dudes to get a veteran SP.