Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti has kept in contact with Andre Ethier's agents at CAA through the team's ownership change in hopes of reaching agreement on an extension, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio (on Twitter). In a followup tweet, Bowden says that he expects an extension would cover four or five years and pay the slugging right fielder $14-$15MM annually.
Over the past week we've heard that Colletti has talked with the new ownership group about a new deal for Ethier and his intention has always been to keep Ethier wearing Dodger blue. The 30-year-old Ethier avoided arbitration this offseason, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $10.95MM. He's enjoying a strong start to the 2012 season, batting .284/.326/.568 entering play today.
Ethier is 30, not 31.
4 years/$60MM. He’s overrated and should not be overpaid.
Bowden is a clown, but then again so is Coletti. 4 years at 14-15 million is ludicrous, but baseball is the sport where athletes get overpaid the most. Kemp got 20 million, which I think was a fair deal. No way Ethier should get more than 11 million a year for 3 years
Kemp might wind up a bargain if he keeps this up. I was concerned that he would digress once he got paid but it really seems as if he has matured to the next level and has the drive of a player who wants to be elite year in year out regardless of what type of money he is getting.
As for Ethier…..I am thinking a Cuddyer type deal would be fair. They would be nuts to give him $15 mil annually over 4-5 years. If you are thinking about investing that much money for a player of Ethiers caliber why not wait out the market on outfielders in the offseason with Hamilton, Swisher, Upton, Victorino, Melky, Quentin most likely being available.
I seriously doubt Kemp will be able to keep up at his current pace all season, however he certainly is rewarding the Dodgers for their 9-digit deal.
Agreed on Ethier. The guy is a decent right fielder but no way should he be getting $15M a season.
He should get $15MM just for having a pulse when Milton Bradley needed to be offloaded. Seriously though, for what the likes of Jayson Werth is getting, and what else is out there, sure, lock him up at those rates; he’d clear that easy in NY/BOS ** if** he were to stay healthy. As far as “what else is out there”, it’d be a shame to see Josh Hamilton reach FA, but if he were, would like to see Kasten work his Magic. (I see what I did there….)
Wait, you don’t think he’ll still have an OPS of 1.428 in October? ;) He’s on pace to hit 85 HRs, too…
Only if he takes over fitst base next year.
That is actually a good point, sign him to play first base next year and then sign one of the top tier outfielders for the next season
Ethier should not be given a new deal, by a statistical standpoint.. Then again, as a Giants fan, hopefully they’ll sign him to a 10-year 300MM contract and he’ll be a bust by year 2.
There can only be one Aaron Rowand sorry.
This guy is a healthy Josh Willingham who played on big-market teams his entire career. Anyone who gives him more than 35-40MM guaranteed should be fired on the spot.
“Healthy” and “Ethier” go together like sunny days in Seattle. It’s nice when they have them though.
5 years at 70-80 million seems about right for Ethier. It’s been a couple years but the JD Drew deal with Boston seems comparable (5/70)…add a few million for inflation.
Drew was a great defender. Ethier is a DH. Awful comparison.
Ethier isn’t *that* bad defensively. I’m not going to use the GG argument or anything, but he has a solid arm and there are certainly many, many worse defenders roaming some major league outfields.
Though I’d love to see him transition to 1B to replace Loney, since there is a lot of OF depth in the coming free agent class.
I actually dislike him as an outfielder because of his arm. Last year on a throw to the plate, Loney didn’t cut it and it *stopped* rolling before it got to the plate. Last night on a play at the plate his throw was so far up the 3rd baseline I couldn’t figure out who he was aiming to throw it to. People see the assist totals and assume he has a good arm, when really the league just runs on him every chance they get. He doesn’t play hard either. Put him at first, addition by subtraction… No more Loney. Plus all we need from his arm is an occasional throw to second or home. I think it’s a great idea. I’m also hoping he continues to perform a little better against lefties, as he’s done so far this year.
I think a 5 year/70mil is fair. There really is no other option for the Dodgers and Ethier is perfect for building for building a good core of players. Hopefully we trade for Moustakas
Disagree with that kind of money for Dre, he’s a first baseman or DH already. How could we possibly have the pieces to trade for Moose and why in the world would KC be trading him? Straight crazy pants.
Agree. Four yrs for $60 mill or 5 years for $70 is about right for Ethier. He will have just turned 31 to start next year so giving him a 4 yr deal would be fine or 5 yrs at a little lesser annual average value would work, too.
I am thinking a 4 yr deal w/a vesting player option year for about $15 mill/yr would be ideal. That way if Ethier doesn’t stay healthy, then the Dodgers can just buy him out after the 4th yr.
If he makes it to FA, he’ll get more. Someone will offer 5/90.
Fine. I just hope it’s a team I dislike. Haha
I think 5 years 70-80 mil is fine the Dodgers need Ethier. We need a young core of guys to build around. I hope we trade for Moustakas.
15 million a year is about right. He’s worth more than Hamilton, Swisher, Upton, Victorino, Melky, Quentin all those guys, Take away last year when he was injured, his numbers are better.