Los Angeles Dodgers And Andre Ethier Agree To Five-Year, $85 Million Contract Extension

The Los Angeles Dodgers and right fielder Andre Ethier have agreed to a five-year, $85 million contract extension.

Ethier could have tested the free market but chose a long-term deal with the Dodgers after president Stan Kasten and general manager Ned Colletti promised to work on keeping the team competitive.

According to Ethier:

“I know for a fact that Ned and Stan … are going to try their hardest to make this the best team and the best organization, as it should be, and give this city and these fans something to be proud of the next couple of years. I guess today is one of the starting points toward doing that.”

The new deal begins next season and carries on through the 2017 season with a vesting option for 2018 that would pay Ethier $17.5 million with a $2.5 million buyout. Andre Ethier will see his contract vest if he makes at least 550 plate appearances in 2017 or 1,100 in the combined 2016-2017 seasons.

When asked about his decision to pass on free agency Andre Ethier told ESPN:

“This is the best group of guys we have had in my seven years here,” said Ethier, who was the Dodgers’ first trade acquisition (from the Oakland Athletics) after Colletti was named GM in November 2005. “I would like to give a lot of credit to them for the start I have had this year. … You don’t realize how much that plays a role on you every day. This game is tough enough to show up 162 games a year. If things aren’t going well at home or aren’t going well in the clubhouse, it makes it even tougher.

“But this spring, from day one, that wasn’t the case. These guys enjoyed each other, knew their roles and knew where they needed to be. Guys pull for each other. This is a fun place to be when that happens. That is something to be said for the people who put this team together.”

Do you think locking up Andre Ethier for the long-term was the right decision made by the Los Angeles Dodgers front office?