The Dodgers won't trade Andre Ethier to prevent being left on the hook for the two years and $38 million remaining on his contract when he becomes a 10-and-5 player in April, general manager Farhan Zaidi told the Los Angeles Times.
As a player with 10 years of MLB service, the last five with the same team, Ethier would have the right to veto any trade.
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But Zaidi said at the GM meetings in Florida that that won't factor into the team's decision-making before then.
“Our goal is to put together the best roster,” Zaidi said. “If a guy is part of that roster, in that time he’s going to secure those rights, that’s fine.”
Ethier, who turns 34 in April, is coming off a bounce-back season in which he hit .294/.366/.486 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs for the NL West champions.
“Andre had a big year for us, and he fits very well on our team going forward,” Zaidi said.
