"The Big Piece" as some call him in Philadelphia has merely been a "small piece". Ryan Howard hasn't lived up to his outrageous 5 year/$125 million contract, being injured and just overall poor for much of his contract. The Philadelphia Phillies have three options with Ryan Howard by many people's standards, but yours truly thinks there is a fourth. These options include:

1. Trade Him:

The Phillies have explored this option so many times and are still looking for a suitor that might take his services. This option is the hardest to complete because although a team wouldn't have to pay him very much, he would have to play for an AL team as a DH. Also, Howard might hit 20-30 HR and 90-100 RBI, but he will hit somewhere near or below .250 and strikeout 175+ times. In addition, what is a fair return for him? What do you trade for a $5 million 20-30 HR hitter that strikes out 275 times and hits near or below .250? Do you trade a top 10 prospect? Top 20? It's hard to say exactly what teams are willing to give up and what the Phillies are asking for. But obviously they aren't because if the Phillies got what they want, they would deal Howard in a heartbeat. Trading Howard would also open a ton of doors for youngsters like Darin Ruf (not really a youngster anymore), Cody Asche, Maikel Franco, and Cesar Hernandez. If Howard is traded, the Phillies could do one of many things. For example: 1) Put Franco or Ruf at 1B, 2) Move Chase Utley to 1B, try Cesar Hernandez at 2B, and decide between Cody Asche and Franco at 3B, or 3) Move Utley to 1B, put Asche at 2B (his original position in college), and put the vacuum-of-a fielder Maikel Franco at his best position, 3B.

2. Release Him:

This option makes 0 sense. There is no reason to just eat the remaining $60 million and not have him on your team or get anything, what-so-ever in return. I mean if Howard starts the season hitting sub .100 with 75 strikeouts and no home runs and less than 10 RBI than they may think of releasing him. Until that point, however, the Phillies will hang on to his services.

3. Hang On To Him:

This is the most likely option of them. The Phillies are unlikely to find a suitor for Howard because of both their lack of a decent General Manager and the fact that Howard is such a high-risk, high reward kind of guy. Hanging on to him would mean having to decide between Maikel Franco and Cody Asche at 3B. Also, they would have to make a decision on Darin Ruf, should they play him once a week at 1B or something of that nature, play him in Left or Right Field depending on whether or not they sign Cuban OF Yasmany Tomas and if they trade RF Marlon Byrd, or have him as a bench player.

4. Hang On To Him, But As A Bench Player:

This option is the most outside the box, but this columnist thinks it's the best. Either way, the Phillies are going to have to pay Ryan Howard a lot of money and it's unlikely he will be a Phillie after his contract is up, so why does it matter if he gets upset about playing time? If you bench him, a spot will open up at 1B, just like if they trade him, allowing young players to get some playing time. Also, the Phillies will bulk up their bench/replacements/pinch hitters significantly. The Phillies bench has been atrocious the past few years, relying on guys like Reid Brignac, Jayson and Lance Nix, Freddy Galvis, John Mayberry Jr., and Michael Martinez for clutch hits or any offense really. In addition, Howard would make a perfect DH the four times, next season, that the Phillies play in an AL ballpark.

The Phillies have a couple of options when it comes to what to do with Ryan Howard this winter. But your humble correspondent would bet on Ryan Howard wearing Red and White pinstripes and playing at 1B on Opening Day 2015 at Citizens Bank Park.