Report: Phillies First Baseman Ryan Howard Could Have Been A Milwaukee Brewer
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Phillies 2011 season not only ended with a Division Series loss to the Cardinals, it also ended with a tear of Ryan Howard's Achilles. As it turns out, that final swing may have kept Ryan Howard in a Phillies uniform.
MLB Insider Seth Everett told 94 WIP radio last night the injury is why he's still a member of the Phillies. "I still believe that if Ryan Howard doesn't tear his Achilles on the final play of last season, I do believe there is a very good chance he'd have been traded this winter," Everett said.
Everett said that the team who would have been most interested, is the team that just lost their All-Star first baseman. "I know the team that would have inquired ... The Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee knew they were never touching Prince Fielder. And they had made a substantial investment in Prince Fielder. So they had money to burn."
After watching the Phillies lose to the Cardinals, Everett thought the Phillies needed a major lineup change to compete in the playoffs. The best way to do that, is to make a trade. "The only one who has any value plays first base. And there's an organization in Milwaukee who was going to spend money on Prince," Everett said. "If the Phillies were willing to eat 30% of that contract. I do think he could have been a Brewer."
Prince Fielder signed a nine-year deal with the Detroit Tigers this week, worth $214 million. Everett said that Detroit wasn't Fielder's first choice, because of the strained relationship he has with his father, former Tiger, Cecil Fielder. "I think Scott Boras bullied Prince into doing this (signing with Detroit), because I never really thought Prince would have allowed himself to put on Cecil's uniform. I can't believe that." "They don't like each other," Everett said of Prince and Cecil Fielder, "they're very estranged."
LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW WITH SETH EVERETT:
