The Cubs are looking for another outfielder long-term and a guy like Andre Ethier could be a good fit.
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune says Ethier is high on Theo Epstein’s wish list and the Dodgers may not have enough funds to keep him around when his contract expires after 2012 now that they gave Matt Kemp a huge payday and have a contract extension for Clayton Kershaw looming.
But, the former second round pick is still superb at getting on base, with a career .364 OBP, thanks in part to a .291 career AVG. He won’t turn 30 until the 2012 season’s second week, so there are still several years left of his prime.
If Epstoyer can make a deal for Ethier in 2012, I wouldn’t be surprised if they made that move. But that might be hard to do. What do the Cubs have that the Dodgers want? Not much in the way of young talent to trade.
But if Ethier hits free agency this fall (man, feels weird to say that now that it’s 2012), expect Epstoyer to go hard after him.
The Cubs already have David DeJesus for the next two seasons (with an option for a third year) and Brett Jackson quickly ascending through the system, but if Theo and Jed Hoyer are somehow able to deal Alfonso Soriano and Marlon Byrd, Ethier could be a great fit. He could play right and push DeJesus to left.
A starting outfield of DeJesus, Jackson and Ethier in 2013 would be mighty nice.
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1. Dan The Mediocre Posted: January 02, 2012 at 07:38 PM (#4027121)Because of the defense, just 8.9 WAR over the last 4 years and just 12.7 oWAR. He's not an elite player.
EDIT: A starting outfield of DeJesus, Jackson and Ethier in 2013 would be mighty nice.
As in maybe league average?
Thank you. That is all.
I agree. I've seen "Thed" on a couple of threads here, but the first 2 times I just assumed it was a typo of "Theo". It's not obvious what it's referring to.
Nah, this is all made up by Phil Rogers who assumes Theo will want Ethier because he saw Ethier has a nice OBP. I doubt that there is anything of substance here.
Why don't we just call them the ####### Cubs?
Over my dead body!
Well, OK, maybe no need for that much drama. But that would be the Cubs trading the younger, better, rarer player* for ... Andre Ethier. That's not my idea of getting better and building for the future. If the trade happens at all (which I doubt), it will be a salary dump by the Dodgers and the Cubs will shift over a couple of forgettable prospects ... given the Cubs' luck, one of those forgettable prospects will turn into Albert Pujols.
*Granted, Soto is not the most durable of blokes
Or Jandy Bushyer ... which I think is Aussie slang for horny kangaroo.
I assume every phrase is Aussie slang for horny kangaroo.
Let's not exaggerate. Surely some are about wombats or koalas.
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