Ryan Howard has set a new record with a $10 million judgment in salary arbitration. A three-person panel of Stephen Goldberg, Robert Bailey and Jack Clarke awarded Howard that figure instead of the $7 million offered by the Phillies. The historic amount is the highest received by a first-year arbitration-eligible player.

Regardless of any long-term hard feelings that may or may not have arisen, Howard cannot become a free agent until after the 2011 season, and the Phillies can revisit talks on a multiyear contract down the road.

The previous highest amount by a player who won his case was the $8.2 million scored by then-Braves center fielder Andrew Jones in 2001. Jones then had four years of service time. Alfonso Soriano came in line with Howard’s $10 million from the Nationals in ‘06, but that came in a loss. Soriano requested $12 million.