Phillies veterans Carlos Ruiz and Ryan Howard have both cleared revocable waivers, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark (via Twitter). Both can now be freely traded without restriction, though only one week remains for players to be dealt while remaining eligible for the post-season rosters of their new clubs.
The news is hardly surprising, and it’s not altogether clear that either player holds much chance of being moved. The pair constitutes the last remaining players from the organization’s recent golden years, and neither has ever played for another major league team. Both are obviously well past their prime but remain expensive, and each possesses full no-trade protection via ten-and-five rights.
Two teams, however, are said to be “mulling” a move to add Ruiz, who is earning $8.5MM and is owed a $500K buyout on a $4.5MM club option next year. He is actually playing fairly well this year — particularly given that it is his age-37 season — in reserve action. In 193 plate appearances, Ruiz has put up a crafty .261/.368/.352 batting line, making up for his lack of power with a rather remarkable ratio of 28 strikeouts against 24 walks.
Meanwhile, says Stark, there’s no indication whatsoever that Howard will be moved — as had been previously reported. He is not only playing on a $25MM salary this year, but will still take home a $10MM buyout on a 2017 club option. The 36-year-old slugger is a limited player at this stage, though he is still capable of hitting right-handed pitching and has popped 19 long balls in 286 plate appearances. Howard is putting on a Philly swan song at the moment, as he has banged out five home runs and delivered a .378/.425/.838 slash in the month of August.
Chooch has a .719 OPS and 1.5 WAR, thats got to have value to someone
Howard has been the best hitter on the team for 2 months now
Howard is hitting .324 with a 1.078 OPS since July 7th
@Mets
Ruiz to Indians? Shocked he cleared waivers in the first place.
I imagine no one wanted to pick up his contract. This way at least whichever team he might be moved to can have the Phillies eat some of the money
Including the buyout Ruiz is still owed about $2M. Phils will have to eat the buyout $ at the least.
You claim the guy because you think that if you don’t, someone else will. Last year the Phillies paid off the rest of the season on guys they traded. No reason to think they won’t again.
He would be a great addition to that team. No one works better with pitchers than Chooch.
“Philly swan song”…I uh …er….what?
He’s almost done with the Phillies. He putting up a great final performance, sometimes called a swan song.
Even if Philly has to absorb much of the contracts it should be worth it to them. Bringing some sort of prospects in these deals would make sense.
Ruiz definitely makes sense at catcher for contending teams. Howard can still crush home run versus RH pitching you would think there are a few buyers out there for him with the financial part possibly being absorbed.
I wonder if the Blue Jays might try swinging something for Howard. Smoak is pretty bad.
Smoak basically got replaced by Upton though. Saunders and Bautista are going to eat up a lot of DH time while Upton plays OF. I’d rather have Howard’s bat against righties, but they just don’t have the roster spot, especially with their 6 man rotation. Well, unless they drop Smoak, but I dont see that since he’s a switch hitter with good defense.
If the Phillies pay a big chunk of the buy out the Mariners should look at Howard he can’t be worse than Lind. He could also give us a bat off the bench which we don’t have. It might be worth a couple mill to have a guy who could help down the stretch. Not sure how bad his D is now but when Cruz is on RF maybe DH? They need something. Still a long shot to make the WC but if it is just money they throw at it why not try?
to the Marlins:
Ruiz, Howard + 2017 buyouts ($10.5 M)
to the Dodgers:
P – Luis Castillo and OF Isael Soto, IF Jesmuel Valentin
to the Phillies
Jeff Mathis, Yasiel Puig and P Justin Jacome
This is s good deal for all clubs!
Replacing Smoak with Howard makes the Jays worse, not better.
But can Ruiz catch a knuckleball?