Late in spring training, it was reported the Phillies were willing to pay $50 million of the $60 million remaining on first baseman Ryan Howard's contract in order to trade him.
However, two rival general managers told CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman that they hadn't heard the Phillies were willing to pay that much of Howard's contract. One general manager said it was his belief the Phillies were only willing to pay $35 million to move Howard.