Ryan Howard signs the big one!

Ryan Howard is here to stay!

OiP — Today, April 30th, 2010 30 year old home run slugger Ryan Howard has just signed a contract extension to commit him to the Phillies until 2017. Howard will make $20 million each in 2012 and 2013 and $25 million annually from 2014-16. The Phillie’s have a $23 million club option for 2017 with a $10 million buyout.

The $25 million guaranteed average salary in the extension will be baseball’s second-highest behind Alex Rodriguez’s $27.5 million average under a 10-year contract with the Yankees running through 2017.

Howard’s agent Casey Close can be thanked for brokering such a great deal for the city of Brotherly Love. Jeter, who also is represented by Close, is in the final season of a $189 million, 10-year contract.

This is a huge move for Philadelphia to make Ryan Howard a franchise player I remember two years ago when he only got one million for his season with the boys. Howard who is quoted on saying his mom is his accounted will definitely need a professional to handle this kind of money!