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Bothered by Dodgers' mess, Ethier may be thinking of Red Sox
Dodgers players generally deny that the team's ongoing financial troubles (a.k.a. the McCourt mess) are affecting them. But at least star right fielder Andre Ethier is said by several sources around the team to be unhappy with what's going on with the last-place team.
Ethier alluded to his concern with some cryptic comments in spring training that created a brief stir, and while there's no evidence that his worry is affecting his play -- he has a .316 batting average with seven home runs and 42 RBIs, and his 30-game hitting streak in April and May was the second-longest in franchise history -- many people connected to the Dodgers say that Ethier is more dismayed by the financial and on-field troubles than he has publicly admitted. While he hasn't spoken publicly about his concerns since the season started, people close to the situation say they are aware that Ethier has imagined his next stop could be the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees also are believed to like Ethier very much, but people close to Ethier say they believe he has Boston in his mind.
"He's got his best buddy Dustin Pedroia telling him how great Boston is,'' one of those people said. "In Andre's mind, [the Dodgers situation] is embarrassing. And Boston has a different [vibe] right now.''
Ethier's agent, Nez Balelo of CAA, declined comment. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said that absent direct quotes from Ethier he also would decline comment.
Ethier is in the last year of a two-year, $15.25 million contract but can't become a free agent until after the 2012 season. While he hasn't said anything overly negative publicly, he did speculate late in spring training about leaving the Dodgers, saying, "It might be my last [year] here with the Dodgers. You never know. A lot of signs are pointing that way, so we'll have to see.''
The Dodgers' money woes were clearly on his mind then, when he also said, "If I don't play well, we've seen them non-tender guys here, and if you play well, I've seen them offer arbitration because they're afraid of guys setting their salaries too high.'' He seemed to worry about the team's future as a viable contender, as well, when he responded to a question about whether he wants to stay in Los Angeles by saying, "Yeah, as long as the organization is moving in the right direction.''
With the storied Dodgers at 38-51 and in last place in the NL West, unfamiliar territory for the team that has only finished last once in 53 seasons in Los Angeles, many people close to either the Dodgers or Ethier suggest that his feelings about the future of the organization aren't growing any rosier.
"Andre's a really great guy, but he can be a little moody,'' one other person close to Ethier said. "Of all the guys this is going to affect, it's Andre. All the b.s. around the club will affect him more than other players. He's a prideful guy. He's lost respect for the organization.
"He loves L.A.,'' the person continued. "But he wants to play for a winner. And he wants to be associated with a team with positive things surrounding it. Matt Kemp's a guy who won't let it bother him, who'll just say I'll play my game. Andre isn't like that.''
People around the Dodgers say that morale generally is at an alltime low among the team's employees, so it isn't surprising if those feelings have seeped into the clubhouse. "It's been a tough deal,'' one Dodgers person said, referring to Frank McCourt's tenuous position as owner. "People wish everything would just get over with, one way or the other.''
McCourt is trying to drag out what would appear to be his certain ouster, recently filing for bankruptcy in hopes of reorganizing his finances and holding on to the team. But in the meantime, the club's payroll is at mid-market levels (about $83 million, not counting Manny Ramirez's deferred payments), its play is nearing a Los Angeles low and uncertainty surrounds the situations of their two best position players, Kemp and Ethier. Colletti is said by associates to long have been in favor of trying to lock up the team's two everyday mega-stars, and the team made some effort this spring to keep Ethier with a multiyear offer. But apparently, it didn't allay his fears about the franchise's direction.
Kemp, who's also eligible for free agency after the 2012 season, was actually the one who came under criticism from his bosses for on-field gaffes last year, when some club insiders suspected that he was distracted by his relationship with pop star Rihanna, but Kemp, described by Dodgers people as a "happy-go-lucky type,'' has responded with a monster year that suggests he may be becoming one of the game's elite. Ethier's performance doesn't appear to have been affected by his mood, but he is said to have an uneasy relationship with some Dodgers decisionmakers the past couple years. While Colletti wants to keep both players, it would appear their chances with Kemp might be better, even if his superb season raised the financial bar -- though the immediate concern has been to merely make payroll.
While the Dodgers talked to Ethier's people in the spring to try to persuade them about a long-term future with the Dodgers, Pedroia's flattering portrayal of the Red Sox and the city of Boston's reaction to the team has had a real impact on Ethier, according to people who know him. Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew is almost surely in his last season in Boston, which could create a spot for Pedroia's friend. Ethier and Pedroia were teammates at Arizona State and are now regular winter workout partners in the Phoenix area.
One competing GM said about Ethier, "I could see him ending up in Boston. He'd be perfect in that park.''
But for now Ethier puts the best face possible on his less-than-happy situation in Los Angeles. Thursday night was Andre Ethier Bobblehead Night at Dodgers Stadium. If accuracy was a goal, the Ethier doll wasn't wearing a smile.
Around the majors
• The Braves aren't openly shopping Derek Lowe, but with Julio Teheran and Mike Minor thriving at Triple-A, there's little question that they would listen to any outside interest. Lowe has had much success in the AL East, so the Yankees and Red Sox would be candidates for interest, as would Texas. The Braves would most likely be seeking some salary relief in any deal, and they'd surely use the savings on a big bat.
• It's amazing that the Braves are where they are considering they've received virtually no help from Dan Uggla or Jason Heyward. Heyward had his first big game in quite a while in the Braves' win on Thursday (in May, he had more MRIs than RBIs, two to one), so that's a positive step. The Braves also expect Martin Prado, their best hitter the last two years, back soon after the All-Star break.
• One GM predicted that it will be "hard to trade with the Astros.'' He suggested that the Astros would try to "win trades to save their jobs,'' with a new owner coming in. That's too bad, because Houston is done and needs to restock at the upper levels of the minor leagues, competitors say.
• The Twins are still not considering becoming a seller. Despite horrendous luck this year, "the Twins still think they have a chance to win,'' one rival exec said.
• Nobody would confirm the New York Post report that there either are, or at least will be, secret in-season negotiations between the Mets and Jose Reyes. But what kind of secret would they be if someone confirmed it? My take: Even if the Mets have thoughts about trying to extend Reyes during the year, it seems extremely unlikely that he would accept an offer from them with mere months to go before unfettered free agency. Mets GM Sandy Alderson did tell Mets writers that a trade of Reyes is "very unlikely'' during this season. Which seemed pretty obvious at this point, especially with him now on the disabled list.
• The Mets would love to find a taker for Francisco Rodriguez. But while the $17.5 million vesting option on his deal makes them want to deal him, it's also what deters some logical suitors "Scary,'' was the word one GM used to describe the option that vests with 55 games finished (he's on pace to beat the 55 now, with room to spare).
• The Angels created big buzz with their callup of 19-year-old megaprospect Mike Trout (he turns 20 next month). He has been compared to Mickey Mantle, but while he hasn't demonstrated that sort of power yet, his speed is unreal. Some scouts believe Peter Bourjos is just as fast, but not from what I saw this spring. And the rest of Trout's game is vastly superior.
• The Reds did the right thing promoting top shortstop prospect Zack Cozart, who some believe is ready now. Their other young shortstop, Paul Janish, is "an Adam Everett type'' in the words of one scout, describing the good-field, little-hit veteran.
• The Tigers will consider an offensive upgrade for at least one of three spots: third base, second base or outfield.
• Condolences to the family of Dick Williams, who died at age 82 on Thursday. He was a baseball genius who knew how to win and did so everywhere he went. It's great that he was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008, late considering he guided the Impossible Dream 1967 AL champion Red Sox (who improved from ninth place in 1966), the 1972 and '73 world champion Oakland A's and several other winners. He was also very blunt and pretty funny. Once, upon hearing that Tony La Russa had passed the bar, Williams said, "Unlike La Russa, I would never pass a bar.''
• Some scouts in the NY metro area think the Rockies got the best player from their area, Carl Thomore, whom the Rockies already signed for about $480,000.
• Ike Davis is holding a charity event on July 17 at Michael's in Brooklyn, a dinner for Solving Kids' Cancer (SKC), in which he'll do a Q & A session and prizes will be given out. The event begins at 7 p.m. Call 212-588-6624 for tickets.
• Excellent White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper has started his own Website, doncooperbaseball.com, which will help kids improve their pitching while avoiding injuries. Cooper will provide video analysis, point out flaws and positives. And long-time White Sox trainer Herm Schneider will present shoulder, elbow and conditioning programs.
• With everything else that's going on with the Dodgers, McCourt is said to be complaining privately about a couple of the team's signings (namely Juan Uribe and Ted Lilly). Overall, GM Colletti has done a very good job and is said to have had a solid relationship with McCourt, so it's very likely McCourt is just blowing off steam at a difficult time. The team has been hampered by a stark reduction in payroll and also has been decimated by injuries to the infield and pitching staff. But McCourt's behind-the-scenes complaints are par for him. One person who knows him well said, "If they signed 10 All-Stars and one player who didn't work out, he'd just be upset about that one player.''
Source: SI.com