Ruben Amaro says Phillies won't release Ryan Howard

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Although the rumblings continue to swirl that the Philadelphia Phillies are looking to sell, it doesn't mean they're willing to release Ryan Howard outright.

Phillies general manager Rubén Amaro met with the media Friday morning and shot down reports the team considered releasing the franchise's second most prolific home run hitter.

“That is not something we are contemplating,” Amaro said, via CSN Philly. “I don’t know where that’s coming from."

Howard, 34, has been on the decline since the end of the 2011 season when he tore his Achilles tendon in his final at-bat of the season during the playoffs. And although Amaro isn't expecting the same superstar Phillies fans were treated to earlier in his career, he's still hoping Howard can get back on track.

“Our goal is to try to get Ryan Howard straightened out so he can be a more productive player for us," he said. "As I’ve said in the past, I don’t expect him to be the Ryan Howard of 2006, 2007, 2008. What we expect is him to perform better than he is. I know he’s a better player than this."

Amaro went a step further and said he expects Howard to be at the team's facility in Clearwater, Florida when players report to Spring Training in February, despite reports the team is looking to trade him and are willing to pay the $70 million left on his deal.

“I absolutely anticipate that to be the case, certainly,” he said.