Andre Ethier Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Dodgers Star

The Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to entice teams into making a deal for Andre Ethier by reportedly picking up a lot of money left on his contract. The former All-Star is part of a logjam in the outfield for the Dodgers that needs to be resolved one way or the other before spring training ends.   

Continue for updates. 

CBS Sports: Dodgers Willing to Meet In the Middle

Thursday, March 5

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Dodgers are willing to pay roughly $28 million of the $56 million remaining on Ethier's contract if a team looks to trade for the outfielder: "The Dodgers have offered to pay down 'about half' the $56 million remaining over three years on Andre Ethier's contract in efforts to trade him, sources familiar with the talks say."

With one month before the regular season begins, the Dodgers have an outfield that consists of Ethier, Carl Crawford, Yasiel Puig and prospect Joc Pederson. They did clear some room in the offseason by dealing Matt Kemp, but there's still too many players for three starting spots.

On February 24, Mark Saxson of ESPN Los Angeles quoted Ethier as saying that he wanted to be in a spot where he could play every day:

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I want the opportunity to play every day. My mind hasn't changed from when I told you guys that a couple months ago. I felt like when I get a chance to play every day, I put up the numbers they ask of me. For some strange reason, it just happened that coming off a good 2012 season, in 2013 they took games away. You start to wonder why that happened. I feel like if I get a good full year in and get the at-bats, it starts to add up. It's tough when you get 300 at-bats and you're expected to hit 15 or 20 home runs.

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The problem for Ethier is he's being paid like a star when his numbers suggest he's a platoon player. His career numbers against left-handed pitching, which includes a .641 OPS, are dreadful. He's fared well against righties with an .888 OPS in 1,174 games, per Baseball-Reference.com. 

Teams that might have an interest in trading for Ethier are aware of those limitations, which may partly explain why his trade market has failed to develop. He's going to turn 33 on April 10, so having to pay him for three more years is also a hindrance. 

Assuming the Dodgers do kick in as much money as they are reportedly willing to, that could ratchet up some interest. There's a world of difference in paying a player $28 million over three years, but that's still a significant amount for a part-time player. 

Unless the Dodgers are willing to accept anything for Ethier just to create roster space, a trade at this stage of spring seems difficult to foresee. There may be an injury situation that crops up later which helps create a market for the veteran outfielder.