LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers signed outfielder Andre Ethier to an $85 million, five-year deal through 2017 on Tuesday, keeping him and Matt Kemp together in the middle of the lineup.
It’s the team’s first major move under a new ownership group that includes former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson.
The new deal includes salaries of $13.5 million for next year, $15.5 million for 2014, $18 million each for 2015 and 2016 and $17.5 million for 2017.
The Dodgers have a $17.5 million option for 2018 with a $2.5 million buyout, and Ethier’s 2018 salary could become guaranteed based on plate appearances in 2017 or 2016-17 combined. The option vests with 1,100 plate appearances in 2016-17 combined or 550 plate appearances in 2017.
If the option does not vest and is declined, a buyout is payable on Jan. 15, 2018.
Ethier avoided arbitration last winter, agreeing to a $10.95 million contract for this season. He could have tested free agency at season’s end.
“I knew there were options at the end of the day, but why look at them when the best option is here?” he said.
“A friend of mine said a couple weeks ago, ‘You were meant to play here and you wouldn’t play good anywhere else,’” he said. “That kind of rang true and let me think what’s the purpose of holding out a few more months?”
General manager Ned Colletti and new President and CEO Stan Kasten joined Ethier at a news conference overlooking the field at Dodger Stadium. Manager Don Mattingly, along with All-Star slugger Matt Kemp and pitcher Javy Guerra were there. Ethier’s wife, Maggie, the couple’s two young sons, who wore their dad’s No. 16 jersey, and his parents also attended.
“We signed Matt last winter, and now we’ve signed Andre long-term, which to me says basically that you want to get better as an organization looking forward,” Mattingly said. “These two guys are our cornerstones, so it makes a commitment to the fans. Right now, ’Dre’s in a good spot, and his teammates care about him.”
Ethier leads the National League with 53 RBIs. The 30-year-old right fielder is a two-time All-Star who was batting .287 with 10 home runs going into Tuesday’s game against the Angels.
He’s been with the team for six seasons, winning a Silver Slugger award in 2009 and a Gold Glove award last year.
Blue Jays release
Guerrero from
minor league deal
TORONTO — Vladimir Guerrero didn’t want to play in Triple-A anymore, and the Toronto Blue Jays weren’t ready to make room for him on the major league roster.
So the Blue Jays granted Guerrero’s request to be released from his minor league contract Tuesday, giving the nine-time All-Star a chance to seek employment with another team.
“He played (Monday) night, and he decided that was enough for him,” Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “He felt he was worthy of a call-up, and we weren’t prepared to do that right now.”
The 2004 American League MVP, Guerrero has a career average of .318 with 449 home runs and 1,496 RBIs. He played 145 games with Baltimore last season, hitting .290 with 13 homers.
The Blue Jays signed Guerrero on May 10 and sent him to extended spring training. He played four games with Class-A Dunedin before being promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on June 1.
The 37-year-old hit .303 in eight games with the 51s, including a 4-for-5 performance with two RBIs Monday.
Rangers RHP Ogando out 4-6 weeks with groin strain
ARLINGTON, Texas — Alexi Ogando got back in the Texas Rangers rotation filling the spot of an injured starter. After three perfect innings, the right-hander is on the disabled list himself with a strained right groin.
Ogando was placed on the 15-day DL on Tuesday, two days after he got hurt running to first base on a bunt single at San Francisco. He is expected to be out four to six weeks.
“It was a little more significant than we expected to see,” general manager Jon Daniels said.
Ogando was an All-Star last year when he won 13 games as a starter, but returned to the bullpen this season. He made his first start Sunday in place of left-hander Derek Holland, who is on the disabled list with shoulder fatigue.
After not making a player move the first six weeks of the season, the AL West-leading Rangers now have three injured pitchers. Neftali Feliz was put on the disabled list May 21 with inflammation in his right elbow.
Left-hander Michael Kirkman was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to take Ogando’s roster spot.
