Dodgers Avoid Arbitration With Andre Ethier
January 17, 2012 at 6:59 am | Posted in Andre Ethier | 37 Comments
We can strike one potentially contentious arbitration hearing from the schedule, at least according to Andre Ethier’s agents:
#Dodgers arbitration-eligible All-Star OF Andre Ethier agrees to 1-year contract for $10.95M + PBs.
I’m pleasantly surprised by that, actually. Ethier made $9.25m last year on the back end of a two-year, $15.25m contract signed before 2010, and despite most of us knowing he had a relatively disappointing and injury-prone season, a 30-game hitting streak, All-Star appearance, and Gold Glove usually go a long way in contract negotiations. I had pegged $12m as Ethier’s likely salary through arbitration, and Eric Stephen had guessed $13m was probable, so coming in at just under $11m (plus likely incentives, which we’re not aware of yet) seems like a pretty good deal on the club’s part.
With Ethier settled, the Dodgers now have $72.60m committed to 15 players under contract for 2012. That doesn’t include the approximately $5m or so that will be spent on minimum salary pre-arbitration types, the approximately $23m spent on deferrals and buyouts, or the club’s two remaining arbitration cases, Clayton Kershaw and James Loney, who will likely add $15-18m between them.
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I am very surprised that Andre signed for only $10.95 million, also. I just hope that Loney takes something as reasonable. The thought of him getting over $6 million for inconsistent production is kind of scary.
Comment by grabarkewitz— January 17, 2012 #
>> 1-year contract for $10.95M + PBs.
.
What are PBs?
Comment by KS— January 17, 2012 #
If this were Dioner Navarro, I’d say “passed balls.”
Comment by WBB— January 17, 2012 #
Performance Bonuses
Comment by Gibby's Limp— January 17, 2012 #
According to Tony Jackson:
Ethier’s deal is one year, $10.95 mill plus $25,000 for each of 600 and 625 plate appearances. He has reached 600 PAs just once, in 2009
Comment by Mike— January 17, 2012 #
25 Gs? that’s chump change for these guys. his wallet probly cost more than 25 grand.
Comment by sumdumfu— January 17, 2012 #
If Andre’s salary was $50,000 a year (a number most of us can relate to), his performance bonuses would net him $228. Is there some other arcane rule for having such “performance bonuses” to offset some other cost – or some need to keep it under $11 million? It’s just so…weird.
Comment by RS— January 17, 2012 #
It is weird. But check out some of his other PBs:
$15,000 if he and Uribe ever hit consecutive homers
$12,500 for getting beaned in the nuts
$1,275 for every popup he catches in his teeth
$750 every time he gives Dee the rock-a-bye-baby
$50 anytime his bat breaks into exactly seven pieces
[+ $25 for each piece that ends up in foul territory]
Comment by FrankenNed McColletti BeGone— January 17, 2012 #
Wish we could have traded him this off season, but coming off a bad/injured season it wasn’t likely that we get fair value for him.
Comment by @BrocNessMonster— January 17, 2012 #
Yep. I’d like to do so this July though.
Comment by Mike— January 17, 2012 #
IF Gordon is the SS for years to come in LA, the Dodgers would have similar needs for the other three infield positions. Any potential trade of Ethier midseason should address who joins Gordon on the infield, right? Any ideas of those potential players?
Go Blue!
Comment by dodgerccp— January 17, 2012 #
I’d say more than anything else, a 3rd baseman. There’s NOTHING in the system. There’s some potential players at 1st (Sands, if he’s not an outfielder or Van Slyke) and 2nd (I still like Sellers’ glove despite all his flaws at the plate, and if Gordon is the guy at SS, Lemmerman will have to be moved). But there’s absolutely nobody at 3B
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— January 17, 2012 #
My preliminary 3B depth chart looks like this:
Uribe
Mitchell
Delmonico
Baez
Bosnik
that is GRIM.
Comment by Mike— January 17, 2012 #
Keep Ethier, esp. if he rocks this year, and buy a 3B man!!! New owners people, deep pockets!!! Geez.
Comment by paul c— January 17, 2012 #
Free Agent 3rd Basemen Next Year:
Casey Blake (39)
Geoff Blum (39)
Miguel Cairo (39)
Jorge Cantu (31)
Mark DeRosa (38)
Brandon Inge (36) – $6MM club option with a $500K buyout
Maicer Izturis (32)
Chipper Jones (41) – $7MM vesting/club option
Jose Lopez (29)
Placido Polanco (37) – $5.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Mark Reynolds (29) – $11MM club option with a $500K buyout
Scott Rolen (38)
Ty Wigginton (35) – $4MM club option with a $500K buyout
David Wright (30) – $16MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Kevin Youkilis (34) – $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Not one of those guys is worth spending big bucks on. I’d rather trade for a young guy with star potential, while not locking up Ethier to a big contract for his decline years (which he’s already well into). Mark my words: Jerry Sands will out-perform Andre Ethier in 2013.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— January 18, 2012 #
Don’t also forget, Uribe is still under contract. If he’s not dead, he’ll be playing.
Comment by Mike— January 18, 2012 #
I agree with that… And yet, my plan for Uribe involves him not playing. Take from that what you will. (but mostly, I’m talking about getting a 3B for the future an pointing out that free agent markets usually suck).
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— January 18, 2012 #
3B is unfullfilling in the entire Dodgers organization, can’t disagree. Do Sellers and De Jesus Jr. both play 2B & SS in NM to help determine their MLB potentials. Those two, along with Gordon, could become the Dodgers middle INFs, although determining if one is a MLB 2B is more than acceptable. Go Blue!
Comment by dodgerccp— January 17, 2012 #
…and only if another GM is handling the transaction. Otherwise, we might end up with Milton Bradley.
Bonus question: which MLB team did Milton Bradley play the most games for?
Comment by FrankenNed McColletti BeGone— January 17, 2012 #
That would be best case scenario at this point, a strong first half and two B level prospects?
Comment by @BrocNessMonster— January 18, 2012 #
Expect big year for Dre… Final year before FA, doesn’t that almost always work that way?? 2013??? Jury is still out on Sands and hopefully he can move into the Dodger OF for several years to come.
Comment by CHRavine 88— January 17, 2012 #
Totally off topic, but I just found out Josh Macciello is going to be at the Dodger Blogger Softball tournament. I’ll report back here after I get a chance to meet him.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— January 17, 2012 #
awesome!
Comment by Mike— January 17, 2012 #
He talks to me on twitter!
Comment by @BrocNessMonster— January 18, 2012 #
So as I read this it means that this will be Andre’s last year with the Dodgers?
Comment by Louis— January 17, 2012 #
Not for certain. He’s eligible to become a free agent after 2012, but there’s no reason a new owner couldn’t give him an extension.
Comment by Mike— January 17, 2012 #
Plenty of reasons a new owner SHOULDN’T give him an extension, though…
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— January 17, 2012 #
Oh, 100% agreed on that.
Is that a beat the NY Giants logo? BANNED!
Comment by Mike— January 17, 2012 #
I’m sorry, Mike, but I’m a Niners fan since the Montana to Rice days. But… look forward to a really really good football game this weekend.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— January 17, 2012 #
Until he starts cranking out the walkoffs again, then you’ll want him to stay
Comment by Format— January 17, 2012 #
His OPS has declined every year since 2008, and he has never been able to hit lefties. Trade him, if you can get value for him.
Comment by Dave Pomerantz— January 17, 2012 #
Ha. I don’t believe in clutch.
Comment by @BrocNessMonster— January 18, 2012 #
I can’t be happy about saving a couple of million, if that, on Either. WAR the last three years – 3.3, 2.0, 1.3. $11M for that guy? Unfortunately I don’t really have any suggestions on alternatives so maybe resigning him was the correct decision. I just hate the idea of paying that much for so little likely return.
Comment by Denis— January 17, 2012 #
Great contract for Andre, from the Dodger’s perspective. Total payroll around $116. Loney $6mil? Kershaw $8mil? Who knew Frank could even afford that much?
Comment by Ken— January 17, 2012 #
He can’t. He couldn’t afford the Great Lakes Loons payroll.
He could however save a few bucks by doubling as the team mascot…
Comment by Hunteralan— January 17, 2012 #
[...] the numbers from earlier today, the Dodgers now have about $79m committed to 16 players under contract for 2012, plus the [...]
Pingback by James Loney Avoids the Most Depressing Arbitration Case in History « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— January 17, 2012 #
If Blue is not in the race, I see a helluva garage sale in Aug. I could see Dre, Bills and Loney going to the highest bidders. Stockpile some position players to bolster farm system. Starting in 2013 @ 1B Jerry Sands. SP’s Lee and RDLR and OF, Take A Number…….
Comment by CHRavine 88— January 18, 2012 #