The deal: 2009: $15 million 2010: $19m 2011: $20m It's good for both sides as they avoid the contentious process of arbitration. I thought the Phillies would have won this year's arbitration case ($14m vs $18m) but I thought they would have won last year too ($7m/$10m). There was still a chance the arbitrators would have been wooed by Howard's shiny counting stats enough to award him the win, which could have re-calibrated the system for baseball in general.