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Moriarty9 · 10-19-2009, 02:42 PM

Howard signs with Cubs
AL MVP pledges to help break curse
January 13, 2010

CHICAGO — Ryan Howard already has a couple World Series rings, now he hopes to win another and break a curse with the Cubs.

Howard signed a six-year deal with Chicago today that includes a player option for a seventh season in 2016. That option is worth $23.17 million. He will be paid $18.95 million in 2010 and will see increases every year until the final year of the guaranteed portion of the contract, 2015, tops out at $22.47 million.

The contract is significantly less than what Howard had been demanding at the start of free agency, then commanding roughly $30 million annually. Without many suitors at that hefty price tag, Howard found himself negotiating at a lower rate.

Howard hit .277 with 47 home runs and 132 RBI with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last season. He is a career .301 hitter with 285 home runs and 780 RBI in seven seasons.

Winner of the American League Most Valuable Player award this past season, Howard had expressed interest in remaining at Tampa Bay and offered a hometown discount of a multi-year deal worth $25 million annually. The Devil Rays balked at the offer and told Howard and cleanup hitter Matt Holliday the best the cash-strapped organization could do for either was a one-year deal between $18 and 20 million with the hopes of finding funds for a more lucrative deal in the future. Holliday signed on at $19.95 million, with a $5 million bonus if he can win the MVP, which left Howard on the outs.

10-19-2009, 02:42 PM	#640 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Howard signs with Cubs AL MVP pledges to help break curse January 13, 2010 CHICAGO — Ryan Howard already has a couple World Series rings, now he hopes to win another and break a curse with the Cubs. Howard signed a six-year deal with Chicago today that includes a player option for a seventh season in 2016. That option is worth $23.17 million. He will be paid $18.95 million in 2010 and will see increases every year until the final year of the guaranteed portion of the contract, 2015, tops out at $22.47 million. The contract is significantly less than what Howard had been demanding at the start of free agency, then commanding roughly $30 million annually. Without many suitors at that hefty price tag, Howard found himself negotiating at a lower rate. Howard hit .277 with 47 home runs and 132 RBI with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last season. He is a career .301 hitter with 285 home runs and 780 RBI in seven seasons. Winner of the American League Most Valuable Player award this past season, Howard had expressed interest in remaining at Tampa Bay and offered a hometown discount of a multi-year deal worth $25 million annually. The Devil Rays balked at the offer and told Howard and cleanup hitter Matt Holliday the best the cash-strapped organization could do for either was a one-year deal between $18 and 20 million with the hopes of finding funds for a more lucrative deal in the future. Holliday signed on at $19.95 million, with a $5 million bonus if he can win the MVP, which left Howard on the outs.