I have a question, and I'll take on all comers on this one: Why is everyone so eager to trade Ryan Howard?
Almost since word got out that he was having a monster year last season, it seems as though nobody can complete a sentence that doesn't have "Howard" and "trade" in it. Unless the Phillies can pry a front-line starter from another team — I'm talking about a No. 1 or 2 — nothing good will come from trading the best power-hitting prospect developed by this farm system since Greg Luzinski and Mike Schmidt.
The key to all of this is first baseman Jim Thome, who is locked up contractually until 2008 with a club option for 2009. When he's healthy and hitting, this would be a no-brainer, but Thome has not been either this season. He has avoided serious injuries, but he's been saddled with nagging ailments almost constantly in the last two seasons.
He also turns 35 in a month, and the problems that he's dealing with seem age-related. In other words, I think health issues will be with Thome for as long as he continues to play, and it's anyone's guess as to how much time the big guy has left.
If by the time you read this Thome is still in Clearwater, it is not a good sign. Before he left, he told a group of reporters that the plan was to work out in Clearwater for a bit and then head to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to play some games.
When asked how much time he thought he would need, Thome replied, "I don't know. I think the main thing is to make sure that I'm healthy."
If the Phillies can be certain that the team has a healthy and productive Thome for the next few years, then, yes, trade Howard for a proven pitcher, but there are too many questions about Thome right now.
Until the fog clears on Thome's health, trading Howard would be a disaster. The youngster has his good days and bad days, and I still think he needs some work on hitting breaking pitches. Perhaps a season or two in the winter leagues could help.
But if this team trades Ryan Howard, he'll turn out to be the next Ryne Sandberg, another Phillies' farm-system product who had a Hall of Fame career with another team.
With the trade deadline coming up on Sunday, it looks as if the Phillies will be buyers and not sellers, and I like that, despite the fact that general manager Ed Wade does not have a great track record with trade-deadline moves.
With some fine-tuning, this team could challenge for the wild card, but it should be an all-or-nothing approach this weekend because the careers of Wade, manager Charlie Manuel and a number of players are riding on this season.
I still think this team needs a different skipper than Manuel. It still needs a proven veteran starter, and it still needs to fortify the bench. If the Phillies do not make it to the playoffs this season, Wade and Manuel will be gone, and the club will be dismantled.
The most popular trade bait mentioned is Billy Wagner because he wants to pitch for a contending team and his contract is up after this season. The problem I have with this is that it doesn't appear to be a workable match.
The Phillies' most pressing need is a starting pitcher. Wagner will be most valuable to a contender that needs a strong closer, and no contending team is going to strengthen its bullpen by weakening its rotation. Wagner might get the Phillies a good starter from a non-contending team.
This weekend should be interesting. By the time we meet again, maybe we'll have more answers than questions.
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