Ryan Howard trade rumors: Kansas City Royals a suitor?
By Bryan Rose
The Philadelphia Phillies recently announced that once feared slugger Ryan Howard would be put into a platoon situation moving forward. It seemed more than logical considering Howard’s recent struggles, but the former All-Star responded by clubbing a home run and making an impressive defensive play over the weekend.
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Did the Philadelphia Phillies decision to sit Ryan Howard on the pine light a fire for the veteran? It’s too soon to tell, of course, though scouts have to like what they saw – even if it was just a couple games.
That’s music the ears of the Phillies who are said to be shopping the first baseman and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports speculates that the Kansas City Royals may be a team who checks in on Ryan Howard.
"Certainly it wouldn’t hurt a team in need of power like Kansas City to take a flier on Howard if the Phillies ate all the money and didn’t want anything of substance in return – if, essentially, they were paying him to go away – but they’re not there yet."
In such a scenario, there’s essentially no-risk for the Kansas City Royals as they’d be getting Howard for what would likely be a few sub-par prospects and little if any money. Of course, as Passan notes the Philadelphia Phiilies have yet to go completely scorched earth on Ryan Howard at this point, though you have to wonder if he’ll still be on the roster come the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.
If the Phillies do put Howard on the block and are willing to pay the vast majority of his salary however, I have to imagine there would be plenty of suitors even with his poor numbers.