Categories
Arbitration MLB Players MLB Rules MLB Teams

Ryan Howard Aims To End Philadelphia’s Streak

Ryan HowardA little over a year ago, Ryan Howard dropped his agent Larry Reynolds of Reynolds Sports Management in favor of Casey Close, who works for CAA. Howard was coming off of an MVP year and was hoping for another stellar season so that he could go to arbitration with Close and get a monumental deal. Howard had a solid 2007 campaign, but his 2006 numbers dropped in almost every category. Even though he has seen a drop in performance, Howard still believes that he has a strong case going into arbitration against the Philadelphia Phillies.

As strong as Howard feels about the lofty numbers he has put up at such a young age, he and his agent should possibly be concerned with the Phillies track record in arbitration hearings. Since arbitration began as a way to solve disputed salary figures in 1994, the Phillies have a record of 7-0 in cases that actually get heard (in most instances, the player and team settle beforehand). This is important, because the MLB uses a Final Offer Arbitration system, which means that the arbitrator will have to choose the offer from the player or the team at the conclusion of a hearing (there is no middle ground).

Howard is looking for $10 million while the Phillies only wish to spend $7 million (which is what Pujols received in his first year of arbitration eligibility). If the case ends up going to an actual hearing, do you think that the Phillies will remain undefeated at 8-0 or will Howard end up breaking the team’s winning streak? The hearing is scheduled for February 20th. If the two parties do not settle before that date, it should be an interesting case for all sports agents to observe.

The only other team that remains without a loss in arbitration hearings? The Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

One reply on “Ryan Howard Aims To End Philadelphia’s Streak”

Comments are closed.