Phillies' Klentak: Howard, Ruiz 'fit into our plans for 2016'

Though the Philadelphia Phillies are trending in a different direction, general manager Matt Klentak still sees a pair of veterans playing a role on next season's roster.

Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz are the only two elder statesmen who remain following a whirlwind season that saw the front office clean house in an attempt to go younger and rebuild.

Howard's contract has been a bit of an albatross for the Phillies, leading former GM Ruben Amaro to say last December that the team would be better off without the slugger. However, under a new regime, Klentak isn't ready to push him or Ruiz out the door.

"They definitely fit into our plans for '16," Klentak told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. "That's not a concern for me. But I never say never. I'm open to anything. I have so much respect for what Ryan and Chooch have done, and what they have meant to this city and franchise.

"At some point, frankly it could be next week, I'm going to sit down with their agents and talk to them. I don't know them as people. I want to understand sort of what their motivations are. But the question about, 'Can they exist on our roster next year?' Absolutely."

Howard has significantly underachieved since signing a monster five-year, $125-million extension in 2010. The soon-to-be 36-year-old slashed .234/.301/.421 with 57 home runs and 423 strikeouts in 362 games over the past three seasons.

Ruiz's career has also plummeted since earning his first and only All-Star nod in 2012. The 36-year-old has been limited by injuries in each of the past three seasons, and hit a career-low .211/.290/.285 with two home runs in 86 games last season. He's owed $8.5 million in the final year of his deal.

Howard's a candidate to platoon with Darin Ruf at first base, while Ruiz is likely to back up Cameron Rupp behind the plate, barring any potential offseason moves.