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Monday, January 02, 2012

hardball talk: Dodgers’ Ethier high on Theo’s wish list

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.

Tripon Posted: January 02, 2012 at 06:00 PM | 18 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: cubs, dodgers, rumors

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1. Dan The Mediocre Posted: January 02, 2012 at 07:38 PM (#4027121)

I have no idea what the Cubs could offer that would get him even in a salary dump.

2. Jim (jimmuscomp) Posted: January 02, 2012 at 07:49 PM (#4027131)

Hmmmm....still seeing double, Jim/Dan...

3. Brian C Posted: January 02, 2012 at 07:52 PM (#4027132)

I don't think trading for him now is the right play anyway. He's a pretty good bet to hit free agency next year as it is. It would be silly to give up talent for him now, during a non-contending year, even if they had it to give.

4. Walt Davis Posted: January 02, 2012 at 08:12 PM (#4027143)

And his defensive numbers, which we know are gospel, say he's terrible. And he's not that great of a hitter and he's turning 30. If they could grab him for little talent (or wait until the offseason), then sign him to a reasonable extentions and then move him to 1B ... maybe.

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?

5. The Curly W Theory Posted: January 02, 2012 at 08:22 PM (#4027148)

Can we just clear up one thing? Epstoyer is a terrible combination of Theo and Jed's names. It seems clear to me that the proper combination is...Jedstein. Simple. Rolls off the tongue.

Thank you. That is all.

6. Greg Pope Posted: January 02, 2012 at 08:57 PM (#4027171)

It seems clear to me that the proper combination is...Jedstein. Simple. Rolls off the tongue.

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.

7. zfan Posted: January 02, 2012 at 09:08 PM (#4027174)

Seems like the Dodgers could use Soto. They'd have him locked up through 2013, and they need to improve offense where they can. Could Soto for Ethier be the core of a deal?

8. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: January 02, 2012 at 09:14 PM (#4027180)

Seems like the Dodgers could use Soto. They'd have him locked up through 2013, and they need to improve offense where they can. Could Soto for Ethier be the core of a deal?

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.

9. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: January 02, 2012 at 09:19 PM (#4027182)

Ethier cannot hit LHP for beans and has negative defensive value. He's a nice hitter but is not a star.

10. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: January 02, 2012 at 09:24 PM (#4027187)

It seems clear to me that the proper combination is...Jedstein.

Why don't we just call them the ####### Cubs?

11. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: January 02, 2012 at 09:42 PM (#4027197)

If Theo steps into the background, Hoyer and Randy Bush will be Red Hobush.

12. Walt Davis Posted: January 02, 2012 at 10:23 PM (#4027231)

Could Soto for Ethier be the core of a deal?

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

13. Walt Davis Posted: January 03, 2012 at 05:29 AM (#4027441)

If Theo steps into the background, Hoyer and Randy Bush will be Red Hobush.

Or Jandy Bushyer ... which I think is Aussie slang for horny kangaroo.

14. Brian C Posted: January 03, 2012 at 12:01 PM (#4027606)

I still like Hoystein best.

15. Nasty Nate Posted: January 03, 2012 at 12:19 PM (#4027624)

Or Jandy Bushyer ... which I think is Aussie slang for horny kangaroo.

I assume every phrase is Aussie slang for horny kangaroo.

16. chris h. is a member of Team Keefe! Posted: January 03, 2012 at 12:59 PM (#4027674)

I assume every phrase is Aussie slang for horny kangaroo.

Let's not exaggerate. Surely some are about wombats or koalas.

17. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: January 03, 2012 at 01:12 PM (#4027686)

Ethier is close friends with Dustin Pedroia, who had (has, I assume) a very good relationship with Hoyer and Epstein. The Sox were regularly linked to Ethier as well. It could just be a case of less-than-perfect information filtering through Pedroia to his friend, or it could be that Epstein and Hoyer have better information on Ethier than most, and so they like Ethier more than his defensive numbers would suggest. (Or they could just be wrong to like him so much, based perhaps on less-than-perfect information from Pedroia.)

18. Brian C Posted: January 03, 2012 at 01:19 PM (#4027698)

I actually like Pops's explanation the best, that Rogers is just making #### up.

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hardball talk: Dodgers’ Ethier high on Theo’s wish list

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