Phillies' Amaro to Howard: We would be better off without you

It's the worst-kept secret in baseball: the Philadelphia Phillies desperately want to unload Ryan Howard. 

Perhaps sensing the club is running out of time to do so, Ruben Amaro Jr. is shouting it loud and clear for the baseball world to hear.

"We've talked to Ryan," the Phillies general manager told 97.5 The Fanatic on Friday. "And I told him that in our situation it would probably bode better for the organization not with him but without him. With that said if he's with us, then we'll work around him."

Amaro's comments mark the first time the club has publicly indicated its desire to move Howard and the $60 million in guaranteed money due his way. 

Earlier this week it was reported the Phillies offered Howard and outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Baltimore Orioles - one of many rumors linking the 35-year-old slugger to another team this offseason. But Howard's eroding skills, health and contract are proving difficult to move.

Unfortunately for Amaro, he might not have the luxury of time to sniff out a deal.

Howard already has a no-trade clause limited to 20 teams, but he could soon inherit league-wide veto rights if he's still with the Phillies when his 10-and-5 rights kick in.

One thing Amaro isn't willing to do is release Howard and essentially pay him to not play.

"No one's going to release Ryan Howard," he said. "That's not going to happen. Ryan Howard is too productive and too important a player to just release. You just don't do that with a player like that. But, we don't have any designs on doing that."

- With h/t to NJ.com