Ruben Amaro insists that the Phiadelphia Phillies aren't considering releasing Ryan Howard, despite reports to the contrary.

"That is not something we are contemplating," Amaro said Friday. "I don't know where that's coming from.

"Our goal is to try to get Ryan Howard straightened out so he can be a more productive player for us. As I've said in the past, I don't expect him to be the Ryan Howard of 2006, 2007, 2008. What we expect is him to perform better than he is. I know he's a better player than this.

"Has to keep working and it's up to us to help facilitate that. That's on him and on us to help him get back to being a productive player."

Howard, who is owed $60 million after this season, has just one home run in his last 121 plate appearances.

Amaro reiterated that releasing the player "has not been a thought."