Colorado Rockies agree to minor-league contract with Ryan Howard

The Colorado Rockies make an interesting signing by adding Ryan Howard to a minor-league pact

The Colorado Rockies have Mark Reynolds at first base who’s had a pretty good season thus far, hitting .278 with an .867 OPS. They’ve called up top prospect Ryan McMahon who can play some first as well, and now it’s possible they are looking to catch lightning in a bottle for a possible bat off the bench during September and maybe October should they get that far.

Someone who hasn’t played in the majors since last season and only played in 11 games in AAA this season. That person is former NL MVP, first baseman Ryan Howard.

Can’t say I saw that one coming.

Howard played in 11 games in AAA for the Atlanta Braves. While there, he hit just .184 in 42 plate appearances and was released back on May 8.

He really struggled last season for the Phillies, hitting .196 with a .710 OPS in 112 games. The Phillies paid Howard $10 million after last season in a buyout to continue their youth movement. Howard was a force from 2005-2011 but was never the same player after blowing out his Achilles making the final out of the 2011 NLDS.

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For the Colorado Rockies, this isn’t the worse idea in the world. Take a flyer on Howard and see if he has anything left. If he does, bring him up in September and have him be a power bat off the bench and hope you can get a big homer or two out of him. Colorado is certainly a place where those things can happen.

For Howard, if he proves he has anything left, maybe he can catch on with someone for Spring Training before next season and sign a similar minor league pact.