Ryan Howard is still owed $60 million over the next two seasons and the Philadelphia Phillies are looking to trade him, but he has a lot of say in such a situation. In Texas, the Rangers have signed two veterans to one-year deals on Monday.
As the Phillies look to rebuild, one of their main tasks this offseason is trading Howard because of his declining play and onerous annual salary. However, the 35-year-old can block trades to 20 MLB teams with the exception of the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox, a source told ESPN.com.
General manager Ruben Amaro already tried trading Howard in a package deal with outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Orioles, but Baltimore wasn't too receptive to the idea. Byrd was sent to Cincinnati shortly thereafter. The Royals, Angels, Mariners, Yankees, Rays and Red Sox remain unlikely options due to payroll concerns and personnel at the first base and designated hitter positions. The Rangers could use a DH, but not at $30 million per season. If the Phillies really want to get rid of Howard they're likely going to have to eat a large chunk of his remaining salary.
Howard has played in only 304 games over the past three seasons due to a number of injuries. He slashed .223/.310/.380 with 23 home runs and 95 RBIs in 2014, but struck out 190 times. Philadelphia has already traded Byrd, Jimmy Rollins and Antonio Bastardo, which indicates more veterans might be on the move.
Speaking of veterans, the Texas Rangers signed two on Monday: utility man Adam Rosales and reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo (formerly known as Leo Nunez). Rosales was released by Texas last month after he was non-tendered by the team, but the two sides reached an agreement on a one-year contract worth $900,000. The 31-year-old has slashed .257/.318/.383 with five home runs and 23 RBIs in 73 games with the Rangers in 2013 and 2014.
Texas also added Oviedo on a minor-league contract. The right-hander, previously known as Leo Nunez before it was revealed the Dominican faked his identity, was the closer for the Florida Marlins from 2009 to 2011. He compiled a 9-13 record with a 3.86 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 92 saves and 142 games finished over that span. The 32-year-old spent last season with the Rays following his recovery from Tommy John surgery and finished with a 3.69 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 31 2/3 innings.
The Rangers and general manager Jon Daniels may have some moves left this offseason.
