Derek Jeter’s building a 7-bedroom, 9-bath palace in Tampa, but Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard also building a mansion in Tampa, and he’ll have something Jeter won’t: a lazy river.

That was before Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard announced plans to construct the Casa Del Howard, a $23 million, 17,500-square-foot home on a gulf-front lot covering over an acre.

The Howard home has special features, Dawson noted, like a “Venice-style lazy river running from the swimming pool underneath a series of bridges,” and a bowling alley on the ground level with breakaway walls. Dawson termed the river “a fundamental part of the design.” He said the whole Howard family was really excited by the Venice canal, and would not want to give it up.

At 30K square feet, Jeter’s house will be roughly double the size of Howard’s, but I’d much rather have the smaller house with the lazy river. Howard, you may recall, recently got engaged to an Eagles’ cheerleader, so perhaps when his house is ready in a few years, he can move down there and double date with Jeter and Minka.

[Belleair Bee via Philly Daily News]