"The Phillies know who and why. The what, when and where - and especially how - is another story. But at some point Phillies management is optimistic it'll get superstar first baseman Ryan Howard and No. 1 starter Cole Hamels signed to longterm contracts. Source: Phillyburbs.com
I'd go Hamels over Howard. I'd hat to have to choose, but I think I'd have to pick Hamels. Without him, the Phils would be hurting in the pitching department...
Wow. Where to start? 1) Hamels is younger. 2) Pitching talent is much harder to come by than power hitting first basemen (even though Howard is the most prestigious power hitter in the game right now). Like Ward said, you'd hate to lose either one, but if you had to choose, you'd obviously hold onto Cole. That said, I think Howard is gone in two years. Hopefully we get Hamels locked up this year and then fetch a handsome return for Howard once it's time for him to go. We just can't afford to pay him the 20-25+ million per year he'll be looking for.
Howard is a terrible fielder as well as the strikeouts... Of ccourse you gotta lock up Hamels, but if they lost both that would be huge.
They're not going to lose both. They'd have to be goobered not to lock Hamels up long term. Look at the money pitchers are getting on the market now. They lock him up for 15-20 million dollars a year now, and it'll be a huge bargain in a couple of years. He's a once in a decade type player/prospect and the anchor of this rotation (with no great pitching prospects in sight) and there's no way they'd let him go. They don't have the prospects to replace him and if they were looking to replace him they'd have to go out and pay someone a huge amount of money in FA, so you might as well just sign Hamels.
Hamels would be my main priority if I was Amaro. Howard, I like him but I think his defense needs some work. He had a great breakout season and wasn't bad at all this year, I only see him improving.
It's a tough situation to be in. I don't think they'll lock up both, though I hope I'm wrong, but if we have to lose one I would prefer it be Howard. Even though we wouldn't be able to get a power hitter like Howard, it's a lot easier to find a 1st baseman than an ace.
He's gotten much better as a fielder over time but still not close to a gold glover. They won't lose both Hamels and Howard.
I agree with Dawks. Honestly, pitching has never been our strong point but I'm more concerned with keeping Hamels and spending the money to keep him around than I am with Howard.
I hope they figure out a way to keep them both. I could be mistaken, but I think there's a cap on what Hamels can earn with his next deal? They can pay Howard a little more...whey have Burrell money to spend. I think they have control over Hamels pretty much the next three seasons and Howard for two more.
i hope they keep both but howard has already refused a long term deal two straight years now because he wants $20mil plus per year.
