Ryan Howard The New Scott Rolen?

Is Ryan Howard gonna be the new Scott Rolen? Not if Ruben plays his Cards right.

As many Phillies fans know, this week Buster Olney of ESPN reported a discussion within the Phillies organization about a Ryan Howard for Albert Pujols trade. On cue of course, Ruben denied the trade. And many fans have apparently taken issue with Olney's speculative report. But the reality is that Judgment day is nearing with Ryan Howard. With two year left on his current deal, the time for extending Howard or trading him might be now.

The Phillies were in a similar situation with Scott Rolen a few years back. Ed Wade and the Phillies organization did just about everything it could to please Rolen. First came the very generous 4 year 10 million dollar deal that Rolen got before even being arbitration eligible. Then of course came the removal of the Vet's hard AstroTurf, which coincidentally happened at the exact same time the Rolen started complaining about it. And finally there was the eye popping 10 year 140 million dollar offer which Rolen publicly turned down before his final season with the Phillies.

The mistake made by the Philies with Rolen was assuming that they he would resign if they treated him well. Rolen however had other motives. The Midwest native wanted to play in St. Louis, and nothing the Phillies did was gonna change that. And by refusing to come to terms with this reality, the Phillies cost themselves a chance at acquiring a young Albert Pujols.

Now the Phillies find themselves in a similar situation with Howard. Howard, a St. Louis native, has been treated with all the respect that a player of his caliber should be treated with. The recent 3 year 54 million dollar extension was something that the Phillies didn't have to do but did anyways to make Howard happy. Ownership has proven itself willing to pay for a winner, and the fans have provided Howard with one of the loudest and most vibrant atmospheres to play the game of baseball in.

Yet despite all of this, talks of a new deal with Howard are conspicuously absent. One must assume that Ruben has at least had preliminary discussions with Howard and his people about signing a new deal. Only Howard and those closest to him could know for sure what his intentions are at this moment. But Ruben for his part needs make a decision as to whether or not he can resign Howard pretty soon. And if Ruben does get the feeling that Howard is simply not coming back, he better be kicking the tires on a trade with the Cardinals for Albert Pujols.