Editorials

Dodgers News: Andre Ethier Wants To Be Starter Next Year

[new_royalslider id=”2″] The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to trade at least one of their outfielders this winter in order to relieve the crowd fighting for three spots.

Yasiel Puig will stay, while the others are available for the right deal. It was reported that Andre Ethier would be the most likely to be dealt; however, that may prove difficult as he is owed a significant amount of money and is coming off his worst season in Los Angeles.



In an interview with David Vassegh of AM 570 Radio, Ethier shared his plans for the 2015 season:

I’ve set up in my head and in my mind that all my desires to come back here and start next year. This is my first preference. We tried the way of platooning and doing all that stuff and obviously it didn’t make us any more successful than it did any other times in the past so I want to be playing every day and be in the lineup every day and figure out a way to contribute. It’s up to them to make the decisions going on forward. I’ve made my decision to come in and play the best that I can this next year and be a starter doing it.”

Ethier began the year in a five-man rotation with Puig, Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp and Scott Van Slyke, but ultimately became the odd man out. He was relegated to pinch-hitting duties and an occasional start, although he did start Game 4 of the NLDS in favor of Puig in a shocking move by manager Don Mattingly. The 32-year-old Ethier hit just .249 with four home runs and 42 RBIs in 130 games this past season. The career .285 hitter has regressed the past three seasons and is still due over $50 million the next three seasons.

The former All-Star also discussed dealing with all the trade rumors this offseason:

Definitely an unwanted circumstance but it’s one where you just gotta keep showing up and playing every year. Sometimes in the past people have said that was led to drive me some more and maybe i need to dig down deep and let that drive me even more now and go out there and perform. I know what I’m capable of doing and if i’m given the opportunity and it’s one where you’re just searching for it. Sometimes you can’t expect people to give it to you, you gotta go out there and earn it and take that opportunity yourself so like i said I’m preparing that way and going for that this offseason.

Ethier may be an everyday player in 2015, it just may not be with the Dodgers.

Vincent Samperio

Vince is currently the Associate Editor and Social Media Manager for Dodgers Nation. Hailing from San Pedro, CA and a student at Cal State Long Beach, Vince has previously written for the Daily 49er and LASF Magazine.

15 Comments

  1. Lol. This funny. He sounds like those fast food workers who want $15 an hour for flipping burgers!
    You want to start, but you can’t hit the ball? Seems logical!

  2. dodger management need to work on our pitchers/pitching and leave our outfielders alone. If Kemp and Either leave I know 2015 will not our year!!

    1. Too many OF’s on the roster…they can win without Ethier…Kemp they need

  3. How can people criticize Andre Eithier for not being a good hitter/player when they didn’t play him the majority of the season. People get real, you have to be able to play to prove yourself. I hope he is still with the Dodgers next year but if not – then a team that will play him full time. I give him kudos that he didn’t whine, groan and moan like Matt Kemp did when he wasn’t playing full time.

    1. Easy….check his stats…he was not hitting for power or average..He was the starter the first 50 games or so,..he hit NO HR’s after May…And for your information Matt outplayed him all year….once Kemp got healthy he was 10 times the player Ethier was. AE’s BA, HR’s and production have dropped steadily the last 3 years…..without Kemps hot bat the last 2 months they do not win the division….I am tired of AE fans saying he did not get a fair shake and he was more a team player than Kemp…he is washed up…

      1. I generally agree with you, except for saying Ethier is washed up. I do think if given the chance to start with another team he will do okay. I just don’t think he is the right fit for our team anymore. It’s sad to say, but I think to find happiness he needs to go to another team. And of course, we will probably need to eat some of his salary to get anything in return.

        1. Washed up was probably a wrong term. But he is far from being an everyday player anymore…..unless he moves to some bandbox stadium so his power numbers go up..He is a bad fit in Dodger Stadium and at best his power was warning track only

          1. I agree Michael the best he can hope for is a trade to an American League team where he can platoon in the outfield and DH part time

      2. Well Michael that is what makes the world go around. Everybody is entitled to his own opinion. You have yours and I have mine.

        1. yes that is true……but the stats do not back your argument and baseball is a stats driven game…look I like Andre and always have.I myself kept waiting for him to take off and get hot…It never happened….He cannot hit leftys anymore and he is at best an average defender. Once the new alignment was put on the field, the team made up a 9.5 game deficit and went on to win the division…..SVS eve outplayed Andre…which made him the 5th wheel in the OF…He got plenty of chances….he did not produce what a 16 million dollar a year player should….

    2. I Totally Agree. Andre Ethier has
      A lot of Class, and Respect for Himself, and All of His Fans.
      Never Complained, Never Whiney, Never Never Bad Talked Anyone.
      He is a Very Good Player, Very Good Role Model for Our Young People. I’ve Witnessed Andre When they played him “All” season, and He Is A Powerhouse!!! But as Anyone Else
      You Gotta Have a Chance to
      Perform to Your Full Potential,
      With Full Time Playing Time to
      Prove Either way. Andre Has Proven Himself Many, Many Times Over, and Over He Is A
      GOOD, AND VALUABLE PLAYER.
      ANDRE ETHIER NEEDS TO STAY WITH HIS TRUE BLUE FAMILY, AND FANS. I’VE BEEN A TRUE BLUE DODGERS FAN FOR OVER 50 Years, As My Whole Family.
      If ANDRE ETHIER GOES, WE’LL HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE OTHER FAN BASED WARDROBE. AGAIN HE IS NOT JUST A GOOD PLAYER, HE IS A EXCELLENT HUMAN BEING, AND AN EXCELLENT ROLE MODEL. OF WHOM ARE FAR FEW THESE DAY’S. GOD BLESS YOU ANDRE, WE LOVE YOU… LULU LA’S NUMBER ONE FAN…

      1. You are one of very few who agreed with me and feel the same way about Andre Either. I have been a fan of the Los Angeles Dodger since they came to LA in 1958.

  4. I know this would be expensive and he would have to clear waivers but if he wants to start everyday we can send him to Oklahoma City to play center when we call Joc up lol

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button