Fatter wallet aside, slimmer Howard arrives for Phillies spring training

CLEARWATER, Fla. - When Ryan Howard hopped on the scale before his arrival at spring training, he must have taken his wallet out of his shorts before doing so.

The Phillies first baseman, who met the media yesterday for the first time since signing a 3-year, $54 million contract Sunday, says he has dropped 20 pounds from his playing weight at the end of last season. The noticeably skinnier slugger, who now checks in between 250 and 255 pounds, said he entered the offseason determined to drop weight to feel better on the field.

"I basically just wanted to come and get right," said Howard, who said he weighed around 265 pounds at the start of last spring training. "Not so much a target, but drop 10 pounds or so and see how I felt. And drop another 10 and see how I felt to get to a playing weight and feel good, feel light, feel fast, strong, and go from there."

Howard, who technically is not required to report until Tuesday, spent yesterday fielding ground balls at first base under the supervision of new third-base coach Sam Perlozzo. The drop in weight would ideally help his defense, which has been one of the few weak points in his game over his three full seasons in the big leagues. Howard finished last among major league first baseman with 19 errors and a .988 fielding percentage, but finished second in MVP voting thanks to his 48 home runs and 146 RBI.

"I'm trying to work on every facet of my game . . . offensively, defensively, speed, strength," Howard said. "As far as my defense, I know a lot of people have a concern about it, [but] I've been down here and I've been working on it."

Howard said the resolution to his contract situation should only help matters. While last year's arbitration hearing, when he was awarded a record $10 million, probably wasn't to blame for a slow start that saw him hitting well under .250 for most of the season, he said he is relieved not to go through the process again. For much of the offseason, it appeared as if he might have to.

The Phillies didn't become confident in their ability to work out a multiyear deal until after the two sides exchanged arbitration figures in late January. Extension talks broke down last season. This year, the Phillies risked owing Howard $18 million in arbitration (they had offered him $14 million). While the 3-year deal the two sides ultimately worked out - Howard will earn $15 million this season, $19 million in 2010 and $20 million in 2011, in addition to various incentives - still leaves him as a free agent after the 2011 season, the two sides won't have to worry about contract talks for at least another 2 years.

"You don't have to come in and worry about having to answer different questions about contract talks," he said. "You can come in now and focus on playing, getting ready to play for the season." *

For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese.