New York ? Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard asked for $18 million in salary arbitration Tuesday, the third-highest figure submitted since the process began in 1974. Philadelphia offered him $14 million, a raise of $4 million.

Houston’s 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.

Forty-two players reached agreements Tuesday just before the exchange. Among them were Seattle left-hander Erik Bedard ($7.75 million), Pittsburgh first baseman Adam LaRoche ($7.05 million) and Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady ($6.65 million).

While 111 players filed for arbitration last Thursday, just 46 exchanged figures with their teams.

Among them were Baltimore right fielder Nick Markakis, who has a tentative agreement on a $66 million, six-year deal.