NEW YORK — Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard asked for $18 million in salary arbitration yesterday, the third-highest figure submitted since the process began in 1974.

Philadelphia offered $14 million to the 2006 NL MVP, a raise of $4 million. Howard hit 48 homers and had 146 RBIs last year, helping the Phillies win their first World Series title since 1980.

The Phillies and Howard haven't been able to work out a long-term contract. He won his arbitration case last year when he was awarded $10 million, the highest figure given a victorious player. Howard can't become a free agent until after the 2011 season, so it's possible he will play on one-year contracts the next three years.

Houston pitcher Roger Clemens set the record for highest request in arbitration at $22 million in 2005. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is second at $18.5 million in 2001.

Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder had the second-highest request this year at $8 million. In arbitration for the first time, he was offered $6 million, up from $670,000 last year.

ELSEWHERE

Giants: Left-hander Jack Taschner and the San Francisco Giants agreed on a one-year $835,000 contract to avoid salary arbitration. Taschner was the only Giants player eligible for arbitration before agreeing to the deal yesterday. He went 3-2 with a 4.88 ERA in 67 games last season.

Padres: Heath Bell, who will replace Trevor Hoffman as the San Diego Padres' closer, avoided arbitration when he agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,255,000. Bell became San Diego's closer when Hoffman, baseball's career saves leader, agreed to a $6 million, one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers last week.

Red Sox: Boston All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a $6.25 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Papelbon saved 41 games in 46 chances last year, when he earned $800,000. He has 113 saves in 128 chances and a 1.84 ERA in 3 1/2 seasons in Boston.

Yankees: Right fielder Xavier Nady agreed to a $6.55 million, one-year contract with the New York Yankees, and center fielder Melky Cabrera accepted a $1.4 million, one-year deal shortly after exchanging proposed arbitration figures with the team.The agreements raised the Yankees' projected opening-day payroll to about $191 million for 16 players.