Phillies’ first basemen Ryan Howard asked for $18 million in arbitration on Tuesday, while the club offered him $14 mil.

From Rotoworld.com:

The $18 million request is the second-highest ever for an arbitration-eligible player, falling just short of the $18.5 million Derek Jeter asked for in 2001. Howard will, of course, overtake that mark next year unless a long-term deal is worked out. He made a record $10 million in his first season of arbitration.

Considering Howard is coming off another MVP-caliber season, it’s not unfathomable that he would come close to hitting his $18 million request. He’s eligible for arbitration until 2011, so the Phillies are in a tough spot. Do they continue to pay him top dollar for one year at a time until his arbitration ends and then decide whether or not they’ll re-up long term? By then, he’ll be in his early 30s, so maybe Philly parts ways at that point and lets another club roll the dice on giving a 30-plus year old slugger who doesn’t play defense a long-term contract.

Even though it’ll be more expensive now, paying him what he wins in arbitration might be the defending champ’s best move in the long run.