Ryan Howard has selected longtime baseball agent Casey Close, who also represents Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee, as his new agent. Close replaces Larry Reynolds, who was fired last month. Close works for Beverly Hills-based Creative Artists Agency, which recently began representing athletes, and also handles football stars Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. This won't change much in terms of a possible long-term deal for the 2006 National League Most Valuable Player. The Phillies first must tend to their five arbitration-eligible players: Chase Utley, Brett Myers, Aaron Rowand, Geoff Geary and Ryan Madson. Of those five, Utley could receive a multiyear deal.