Los Angeles Dodgers and Andre Ethier Agree to 5 Year Deal

According to Tony Jackson of ESPN Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Dodgers have finally been able to hammer out a

contract extension for Andre Ethier.  Jackson says the team and Ethier have agreed to a five year, $85 million deal.  Ethier would have been a free agent after this season.

Jackson’s sources said the deal will include a $17.5 million club option for a sixth year through 2018.  That option will automatically vest if Ethier were to reach a certain number of plate appearances either in 2017 or in 2016 and 2017 combined.  The automatic vesting based on plate appearances has been a common theme for player contracts in recent years.

Jackson said:

"The new deal will pay Ethier salaries of $13.5 million in 2013, $15.5 million in 2014, $18 million in both 2015 and 2016 and $17.5 million in 2017. There is a $2.5 million buyout of the club option if it doesn’t vest and the club chooses not to exercise it."

Andre Ethier has been one of the Dodgers most consistent performers.  This season he is hitting .287/.348/.509.  While it’s still early, Ethier is currently sitting on his highest wRC+ since 2008 at 131.  He already has ten home runs and 53 RBI.  Last season, he finished with 11 home runs and 62 RBI thanks in part to limited playing time due to injury.

Ethier is a career .291/.363/.481 hitter.  He is a two-time All-Star after being named to the team the last two seasons. He seems on pace to represent the Dodgers this season as well.  The 30-year old outfielder was in the final year of his contract with the Dodgers and would have been one of the most sought-after free agents this winter.

The Dodgers’ new ownership group is making their first big splash with this contract.  They were involved in the Jorge Soler bidding but ultimately lost out to the Chicago Cubs.  Had they signed Soler, that news certainly would have ranked up there with an Andre Ethier contract.

For more on the Dodgers, be sure to check out Lasorda’s Lair.