Dodgers’ Andre Ethier Subject of Trade Interest

Despite being weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting, the Dodgers could still be looking for a trade.

It’s the offseason, meaning it’s Andre Ethier trade rumor season. Somehow, Ethier is still a Dodger, despite seemingly always being the talk of trade rumors around the league.

Why would this year be any different? The free agent outfield market finally settled when Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton signed with the Mets and Tigers, respectively. Some teams that missed out on those two outfielders could still be hunting for a move, and trading for one is often easier to do that signing one to a big contract.

Rogers, an MLB columnist and former writer at the Chicago Tribune, tweeted about possible interest from the White Sox in Ethier.

The Dodgers could be willing to move ‘Dre for a couple reasons. His contract is not great, and while there’s only two years left on it if the Dodgers want to move Ethier, this offseason might be their final chance. In late April, Ethier will gain 10-5 rights by being in the major leagues for 10 years, at least five of which coming with one team. This gives him veto power on any trade. He could still waive his no-trade, much like both Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley had to do when they came to LA. Going from a non-contender in Philadelphia to a contender in LA is one thing, and I have to assume Ethier wouldn’t OK a trade to the White Sox if given the opportunity. 

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Ethier also will probably never have higher value than he does right now. Ethier was easily the most consistent outfielder the Dodgers had last year, and an argument could be made that he was one of their most valuable position players. Last year, Ethier triple-slashed .294/.366/.486. For record, that’s his highest average since 2008, highest OBP since 2011 and highest slugging since 2010.

It’s not so much that Ethier had some sort of massive career turnaround, but his 48 plate appearances against lefties were the fewest of his career. Ethier had two passable years against left-handed pitching, but for much of his career has been next-to-useless against them. Last year, he started 105 games against right-handed starting pitching and only one against a lefty.

Obviously, moving Carl Crawford or Alex Guerrero is preferable to moving Ethier. As Ethier showed last season, he can still provide some value (I personally still think Crawford can too when healthy, but he’s never healthy). Crawford’s contract is a bit more expensive than Ethier’s, and while Guerrero’s is cheaper, he also offers the Dodgers very little value. However, neither of them seem to be appealing to any other team as well.

Trading Ethier isn’t as simple as trading a productive outfielder usually is given his contract. Earlier this offseason, Ken Rosenthal wrote that the Dodgers would be willing to kick cash into an Ethier or Crawford trade, potentially maximizing the return. Even if they pay more than half of the remaining contract, the return probably won’t be anything special. However, if the Dodgers can get a solid prospect or a decent reliever for either of them, it would be hard to say no.

In past offseason’s, I’ve been extremely on board with moving Ethier. Now, I’m not entirely sure. Ethier is still capable against righties and is the best option in left this year. Part of me would love to see an outfield of Trayce Thompson, Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig, but this is the first season in recent years where I haven’t felt like Ethier is going to be dead weight.

In other news, the Dodgers invited three minor league pitchers to Spring Training.

Chase De Jong, a Long Beach native, finished last season in High-A Rancho. He was acquired last season from the Toronto Blue Jays for three international bonus pool slots.

Caleb Dirks was also acquired for bonus pool slots. The Arcadia native came over from Atlanta last season and also finished last year at Rancho.

Finally, Jacob Rhame was drafted by the Dodgers in 2013. He has 20 saves in his minor league career and finished last season at AA- Tulsa.