Philly Front Office

For this edition of the Phillies Series Preview, we look to a trade that never happened 21 years ago because the Pirates turned the Phillies down…

Friday, May 15 at 6:40p – Aaron Nola vs Braxton Ashcraft (R)
Saturday, May 16 at 4:05p – Cristopher Sanchez vs Bubba Chandler (R)
Sunday, May 17 at 1:35p – Zack Wheeler vs Paul Skenes (R) 

PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA

For a certain generation of Phillies fans, Ryan Howard is simply a forever loveable teddy bear. The league eventually started shifting him and throwing him those delicious sliders, but from 2005 to 2011, he could do very little wrong to us. The 2006 season and everything he did in the playoffs was especially memorable. There was “get me to the plate boys,” an MVP, and the time he literally made me jump awake on a futon from the sound of his bat. To think that all of that almost never happened…I mean, could you imagine?

The Phillies drafted Howard in the 5th round out of Missouri State University back in 2001. He was not some super-hyped prospect for anything, so when the Phillies signed first baseman Jim Thome to a big free agent contract (6/$85m was HUGE then, especially for the Phillies) before the 2003 season no one was really concerned. That year Thome delivered with 47 HRs and a 4th place finish in MVP voting. He was the new star and everyone loved him. He was also 32 years old. That same season, Howard was 23 and only playing in High A. He hit .304 with 23 HRs, but also struck out a cray 151 times in 130 games. Still nothing to worry about.

20 Years of the Worst Contracts in Philadelphia

In 2004, Thome did more of the same. 42 HRs but in 16 less games, walked a ton, and drove in runs. Howard, though, was different. In just 102 AA games he hit .297 with 37 bombs, then hit 9 more after his promotion to AAA in 29 games. An MLB cup of coffee added 2 more dingers to his total of 48 on the season. He was now being talked about as a legit prospect. Unfortunately, Thome still had 4 years left on his contract and the DH was 17 years away from adding the DH. It was rumored that Howard had actually demanded a trade at the end of the year, as there was no path for him to the majors.

Apparently, this is when the Phillies and Pirates first discussed pitcher Kip Wells. The Pirates had acquired Wells from the White Sox before the 2002 season and had two very solid seasons for the Buccos (nearly 400 innings of 3.43 ERA ball). In 2004 though, that production had dropped to a 4.55 ERA in an injury filled year. The Phillies were trying to compete though and needed pitching. They also just so happened to have this power hitter in the minors who struck out too much. They tabled the discussion.

Thome started off the 2005 season poorly and went on the DL to start May. Howard came up but was terrible, hitting just .214 with 1 HR. Great, the kid nuked his trade value (I didn’t know what I wanted). Thome returned better, but still not hitting like he had his previous two seasons. Wells was also doing better, with an ERA hovering in the high 3s and 4s.

With the July trade deadline approaching, the Pirates and Phillies started talking again. The Phillies saw themselves as possible playoff contenders, but the rotation consisted of Jon Lieber, Brett Myers, Corey Lidle, and Vincente Padilla. Long time Phillie Randy Wolf was not only ineffective that season, but had been lost for the season in early June and they needed someone to replace him. Might the Pirates want to trade Wells for Howard?

NO! Apparently, Pirates’ GM Ted Littlefield didn’t like Howard. He thought he struck out too much and nixed the deal. It was around this time that Thome went on the DL again and Howard was called up for good. He went on a tear. In the final 76 games of 2005, he hit .296 with 62 RBI, and 21 HRs and was named Rookie of the Year.

Best Trades in Phillies History

Oh god, would the Phillies actually trade Howard now? Here was a possible burgeoning superstar but Jim Thome was 35, hurt, and still had 4 years of big contract remaining. Surely, we would move Howard, right? Wrong! On November 25, 2005 the Phillies traded Thome to the White Sox for Aaron Rowand and Gio Gonzalez. Thome would go on to rebound with a fantastic 2006 season as the DH in Chicago hitting 42 HRs with a 1.014 OPS. Howard though would have one of the single best seasons ever with a .313 AVG, 58 HRs, and 149 RBI and would win the 2006 NL MVP.

Everything worked out well for the Phillies considering they got off the Thome contract, Howard was a star, and they won the 2008 World Series. Did I question my long-time skepticism of the designated hitter and yearn for a lineup with BOTH Howard and Thome? Who’s to say?

As for the Pirates, Wells would go on to lead the league in losses in 2005 and post a 5.09 ERA. He was never again a productive MLB starter and was traded for Jesse Chavez the following year. Chavez would become a solid reliever over his 18 years in the majors, but only managed -.2 WAR in 2 seasons with the Pirates. Right around that same time that the Pirates didn’t trade for Howard, they made the 11th overall selection in the MLB Draft and missed out on the chance of pairing a young Andrew McCutchen with prime Ryan Howard. The one that got away.

Stats: Baseball Reference