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The Rockies have signed first baseman Ryan Howard to a minor-league contract, according to a team announcement. Howard will likely report to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Howard, 37, has not appeared in the majors this season but saw 11 games of Triple-A action with the Braves’ affiliate in April. He hit just .184 with one homer in that span, taking the last three months off before linking up with Colorado.
Howard could provide a power bat off the bench for the Rockies in September, providing a backup option at first alongside Mark Reynolds. It’s unclear if the Rox view Howard as a candidate for their postseason roster, though he’s obviously got an uphill battle ahead of him to just get back to the majors.
Howard hit .196/.257/.453 with 25 homers in his last season with the Phillies in 2016, leaving the organization after 13 seasons. The former National League MVP earned $10 million when the Phillies bought out his contract after last season.