The Nuclear Option: Trading Ryan Howard

The Philadelphia Phillies, as currently constructed, cannot win a World Series.
They may slug their way to one, like Colorado last year. They may get hot and ride a wave to one again, like Colorado last year.

But as sure as the grass is green and the Schuylkill is brown, they will not win one with their current starting rotation.

Cole Hamels is a stud, an ace. A losing streak stopper. The rest of the rotation ranges from wildly inconsistent (Brett Myers) to flat out embarrassing (Adam Eaton).

With a farm system barren of major-league ready prospects, the only option appears to be a trade. And the biggest chip on that table is Ryan Howard.

First off, this is no rant based on Howard’s slow start this season. Personally, I like the guy and his attitude. Plus, he’s having a big week and looks to be coming out of that slump, like most thought he would.

It kills me to think of seeing him blasting moon shots for some other team. But if you think about the four major chips the Phils could deal for a front line, young starter, he’s the biggest and best chip they got.

The other three being:

Chase Utley

Utley is hands down the best second baseman in the game. Jimmy Rollins may dictate the personality of this team, but Utley has emerged as its leader. His hustle, attitude, clutch hitting, and cool-under-fire personality are just too much to give up. He is a guy who does all the little things and all the big things.

He hits for power, hits for average, knocks in runs, doesn’t strike out a lot, is a great base runner, and has improved a ton defensively. Plus his do-anything-to-win attitude is already legendary, and he is loved in Philly.

I would personally light the match to burn down the stadium if they ever traded this guy.

Jimmy Rollins

Asking who I would rather trade, Utley or Rollins, is like asking a man which of his kids he’d rather take in the rescue boat and which he’d leave sinking on the Titanic.

Jimmy Rollins, the current NL MVP by the way, is the guy who gets this thing going. While he’s not the prototypical leadoff guy because he strikes out too much and walks too little, he more than makes up for it with power, speed, and defense. His 2007 stat line of 30 HR, 94 RBI, 41 STL, 212 H, 38 2B, and 20 3B was just sick. And oh yeah, he won a Gold Glove last year as well. 
Numbers aside, he gives the team a certain swagger that is noticeably missing when he’s not there.

Cole Hamels

He may be young, and from what you read, he may be a little over anxious for his big-bucks payday, but he is the one shining light in the deep, dark crater the Phillies call a rotation.

15-5, 3.39 ERA with 177 strikeouts in only his second full season, Hamels is already a star in a pitching-starved league at 25. He doesn’t throw hard, so he’s not (relatively) at as much risk for the traditional young pitcher injuries. And he displays more poise on the mound than guys with double his experience.

The guy is a winner, who, if healthy, can be the rock of this rotation for years to come. Plus he’s a lefty. Trading him sends one message to your team and fans: we hate you.

Which brings us to Howard. His power numbers are ridiculous: 142 HR and 384 RBI coming into this season in basically two-and-a-half seasons. He is the fastest player to 100 home runs in history. He was Rookie of the Year in 2005 and MVP in 2006. In short, he has big-time box-office and trade value.

The problem, unlike the other guys, is that he has holes in game. He set the record for strikeouts last year with 199, and is on pace to shatter it this year. He’s a house, so obviously he’s slow—which would be forgivable if he played great D—but he doesn’t.

He’s currently making $10 million this year, which he won in arbitration. But he’s not eligible to be a free agent until after the 2011 season. Therefore giving the club (whoever that club is) some sort of negotiating leverage.

A quick glance around the league and a lot of teams could use a guy with a stick like this.

An even quicker snap judgment tells us that considering what the Phils need and what the other team needs—and what the other team has to have to pay Howard—a good fit would be a team like the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants are loaded with talented, young pitching, but they can’t score runs to save their lives. They have no legit power-threat. Their best hitter is Aaron Rowand, who is having a great season, but will never hit over 30 home runs in that park. Forget it.

Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are two young right-handers who would look good in anyone’s rotation, especially the Phillies. They have Noah Lowry scheduled to come back in mid-June. I know Zito has stunk so far, but you have to believe he isn’t this bad. Plus, they’re stuck with him anyway. No one will be stepping up to take that $126 million contract.

Pitching, ironically, is the one commodity they could stand to lose. Power is the one thing they (and their season-ticket buying fans by the way) desperately want. Especially after a certain right fielder left town last year. What was that guy’s name again?

If you could have your pick, you’d have to take Lincecum. He throws gas. He’s got the best natural stuff of anyone, and he is still learning the league. Cain would probably be next. They’re both 24.

I’m not saying I want to see Howard run out of town or traded away just because he strikes out too much. If there was another way, a faster way, to cash in on Utley, Rollins, Hamels and Howard’s prime, I’d be all for it.

But as of now, I don’t see it. All I see is Kyle Kendrick pitching with men on base every inning, Jamie Moyer getting older by the second, and Adam Eaton junk-balling his way to another early hook.

And because I’d liked to see the Philies win a World Series before I have to use a walker to get around, I see Ryan Howard headed out of town.