Phillies Goal? Trade Ryan Howard

ESPN's MLB insider Buster Olney writes that the Phillies are working to trade Ryan Howard.

Easier said than done.

While Phillies fans would welcome this happening, the possibilities are not great - so let's not all get to excited.

Consider - Howard is still owed $60 million, with $25 million salaries for 2015 and 2016 and a $10 million buyout of a 2017 team option worth $23 million, so the Phillies would have to cover nearly all of his remaining contract or find a player with a similarly bad contract in order to find a match.

Is it impossible?  No.

But that's a huge investment for any team taking on a 35-year old, injury prone guy who is coming off a year where he hit just .223 and struck out 190 times.

Can it happen? Yes.

On the flip side, it only takes one team desperate enough to think Howard needs a change of scenery and his 23 home runs and 95 RBI this season, could turn into 35 homers and 125 RBI for them.

Likely? No.

I think in the end the Phillies will have to release Howard if they are really serious, as they say they are about moving on an rebuilding.  It's time to let go of the 2008 team starting with Howard.