Howard Given Extention By Phillies

By Justin Worsley

The Philadelphia Phillies have secured first baseman Ryan Howard on Monday, giving the 2006 NL MVP a five-year, $125 million contract extention with a sixth-year option, potentially raising the contract to $138 million.

The contract is the richest ever given by the Phillies and will begin in the 2012 season. Howard is currently in the middle of a three-year extention he signed before Spring Training of the 2009 season.

Howard, 30, becomes the second-highest active played in the major league. His $25 million per season average is second only to the Yankees' third-baseman Alex Rodriguez, who is averaging $27.5 million per season.

The contract is sure to shape negotiations between several other first basemen in the NL, most notably Brewers' Prince Fielder and Cardinals' Albert Pujols. Both clubs are currently re-negotiating contracts before the 2011 season ends, which is when both players would become free agents. Howard's contract could potentially raise Pujols' negotiations to at least $30 million per season.

Howard, a lefty, has hit 222 home runs in his career in Philadelphia.