There has been a lot of speculation the past few weeks that the Mets would be willing to work with the Los Angeles Dodgers to come up with a trade proposal for OF Andre Ethier. Fan sentiment has been pretty split on this possible move but I for one think that it is a perfect opportunity to fleece another team as he has done in the past.
First lets look at the situation Ethier is in at Los Angeles. Currently the Dodgers have 8 outfielders on their 40 man roster: Carl Crawford, Alex Castellanos*, Ethier, Ellian Herrera*, Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Skip Schumaker, and Scott Van Slyke* (*- are not on the 25 man).
Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp are two of the Dodgers consistent starters who are currently on the 15 Disabled List with hamstring injuries. Kemp was expected back on June 14th but suffered a setback in his rehab. He is still slated to return before the end of June however. Crawford is also expected to be back before the end of the month as well.
These injuries prompted the Dodgers to promote top prospect Puig to play RF and move Ethier to CF and he has been mashing since his call-up. Alex Castellanos was also called up as a 26th man in a doubleheader to play LF indicating that he is "MLB ready." Scott Van Slyke, who is also on the 15 day DL, is also MLB ready and is mashing in AAA waiting for a spot to open up on the 25 man roster.
Knowing all of this it is apparent that at the very least one of the Crawford/Kemp/Ethier guys are going to have to leave LA to keep Puig in the majors. With this in mind we now have to dig into contract situations.
| Player | Current Yr | Total Contract Yrs | Contract Value | Options | Remarks |
| Andre Ethier | 1st | 5 years | $85MM | $17.5MM option for 2018 | Option guaranteed with 550 PA's in 2017 |
| Carl Crawford | 3rd | 7 years | $142MM | None | No trade clause. |
| Matt Kemp | 2nd | 8 years | $160MM | None | None |
Based on the information above, despite just signing a new contract, Ethier's is the easiest to move. No team however is going to take on Ethier's full salary due to the fact that he will be 35 during the contracts final season. So the Dodgers are going to have to pick up a significant portion of the salary. In exchange the Dodgers will probably demands MLB players or quality prospects in return. If you break it out by year it looks like this.
| Years | |||||
| 1st (Pro-Rated) | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |
| Salary | $6.75MM | $15.5MM | $18MM | $18MM | $18MM |
18 comments:
I would love to see Ethier in the Mets outfield (although im partial to him ever since he dominated my fantasy team a few years back).....
Although, I'm worried about what the Mets would have to give up to get him. Giving away top prospects over the years is kinda how they got into this mess in the first place.....If they ask for too much, I say keep what they have, and hope they add the right free agents in offseason.
Well I think Ethier could be had for a mid level prospect and a AAAA player since its a big salary dump for the Dodgers.
Im thinking either Cory Mazzoni or Logan Verrett as the mid level prospect arm.
Allan Dysktra or Josh Rodriguez as the low level prospect bat.
Ethier is a horrible idea, no matter how much salary the Dodgers were to pick up...not a good OFer, can't hit LHP (mets have plenty of those guys), doesn't have great power, overpaid, and on the wrong side of his career statistically speaking...he'd be a typically corner platoon OFer that the Red Sox have used over the years...
I'm confused by your assessment vtmet.
Ethier has had 20+ HR seasons in 4 of the past 5 years, is a career .288 hitter, has a career K rate of 17% and a BB rate of 9.5% which is league average and better than most Mets OFer's right now.
He's an adequate OF (Much better than Lucas Duda) and can fill the LF position while Duda stays at 1B. Next season when Davis returns to 1B, Duda goes back to LF sadly and Ethier moves to RF since Byrd is a Free Agent.
So with Duda going back to LF in your scenario, Ethier is the biggest offensive upgrade for the Mets? Boy are we going to be in for another long season if that's the case.
No I'm not saying that. Thats just how the OF would play out.
If I'm Sandy I'm going full out for Tulowitzki.
Quite frankly I'd rather leave Duda at 1B and package Wilmer Flores, Ike Davis, and Michael Fulmer for Tulo.
Will Duda be part of the equation?
I don't see the value on this team.
Ike's hitting in AAA and if he sustains that he'll be back. Young made a fine play in left last night that Duda would never have gotten to. Big play that spoke volumes about the need for speed and D in the OF. It'll win you ballgames
Duda just doesn't fit.
I agree IB.
This is something Sandy is going to have to decide.
The team will not be able to have both Duda and Davis on this team going forward. One of them will be gone.
Since Duda is still pre-arb he is easier to move then Davis.
Soto -
- if the Mets could get Tulo for that package it would be highway robbery. I think Ike could turn out to be a force in Denver and the Rox would be happy with him, I just think his value is low right now.
- we should start an online movement (or at last meme) to get Tulo to NYC. He makes too much sense for this team.
- I could live with Ethier as a complimentary piece if the Mets got Tulo. I'd still trade Duda in that scenario, a youngish 1B/DH with 30HR power and a high OBP should have value on the market.
- The Mets will still need a legitimate leadoff hitter.
Your leadoff hitter could either be Elssbury or Cho. Thats a fair bit of money between which ever FA OF you sign and Tulo and a half price Either but it could still work.
If Ethier is half price it can work. If he's full price it'll be a stretch.
RF - Choo
3B - Wright
LF - Ethier
SS - Tulowitzki
1B -
CF -
2B -
Ca - d'Arnaud
I'd still rather wait until the season is over (or if the Royals fall far enough out of contention) to see if Alex Gordon can be pried. Signed for 2 more years, team-friendly contract for Mets, maybe too rich for Royals.
Soto said: I'm confused by your assessment vtmet.
Mets have been plagued for years by lefties that can't RHP...Either is yet another example of this...
vs LHP:
2013: .233 average; .598 OPS;
2012: .222 average; .606 OPS;
2011: .220 average; .563 OPS;
2010: .233 average; .625 OPS;
he'll be 32 next season & is signed for about $17Mil per season for the next 4 to 5 years...he's not particularly fast, and being a better OFer than Duda isn't that big of a compliment...he's not the "missing piece" for this team...
No team is going to take Ethier's full contract. Thats why in my article i assumed the Dodgers would pick up at a minimum 40% of the remaining costs.
I am perfectly happy with Ethier at $9MM- $10MM a year despite the issues hitting left handers.
Scannell, I personally think Ellsbury is a better lead off fit AND i think he will be cheaper too.
and vtmet. I was confused by your statements of not hitting for power and on the wrong side of his career stats wise, terrible OF stuff.
Ethier has darn good stats outside of the start of 2013.
Id prefer Ellsury to Choo as well. I think Gordon's an awesome player but I don't see us having the talent to trade for him on top of Tulo without emptying the farm.
I'd like to see this lineuo
Ellsbury
Murphy
Wright
Tulo
Davis or Duda
Ethier
d'Arnaud
Mets outfield prospect or platoon for last outfield spot Matt DD, Kirk/Lagares platoon or maybe some of the guys at Bingo....
That would be a pretty good lineup. You can move Either further down in the order vs Lefties.
Ellsbury will likely be cheaper, has better speed, and is a true CF. But, it's difficult to argue with an OBP as high as Choo's.
If the Mets added Tulo and Ellsbury I wouldn't be upset.
I just don't know if the Dodgers would eat a lot of Ethier's contract AND take mid-level talent for him.
Hell, let's go nuts -
CF - Ellsbury 12
3B - Wright 20
LF - Ethier - 9
SS - Tulowitzki 20
RF - Pence 15
1B - Morneau 10
2B - Murphy 4
Ca - d'Arnaud 0.5
Total lineup - 90.5
Rotation - 6
Daniel - re: talent and trading for Gordon
This is why I'd like to see the Mets sell of whatever isn't nailed down as a 2014 piece. Add more to the prospect coffers so the team can add another quality bat.
I definetly agree with that. Gotta sell off Buck Bryd and Marcum.
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