The Los Angeles Dodgers aren't really shipping Andre Ethier, sources say, but they are willing to listen in on possible suitors and their offers. The latest rumor featured a trade that would have dealt Ethier to Boston for Jacoby Ellsbury.
This deal was shot down immediately, however.
Apparently, the Dodgers are seeking a leadoff hitter since Mark Ellis' .331 on-base percentage wasn't suitable for a top of the lineup guy. Ellsbury is very suitable at the leadoff spot of a batting order even though he possesses enough power to be a middle of the order hitter.
Ellsbury has a career .349 OBP in six years at the major league level. After having a breakthrough 2011 campaign, where Ellsbury hit 32 home runs and drove in 105 runs, there have been many rumored deals for the 28-year-old centerfielder.
Despite Ellsbury's potential, his biggest downside is his inability to stay healthy. He has only played 100 games or more in three seasons. In 2010, he only played in 18 games and in 2012, last season, he only played in 74 games.
Ellsbury becomes a free agent in 2014, which is why the trade rumors have and will be produced.
Another reason why this trade wouldn't go down is because Ethier, though a very reliable hitter, has a six-year deal of $100 million remaining in his contract. The Red Sox are staying away from these big-money, long term deals committing them to a single player.
This is clearly seen in the contracts they have offered Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino and more recently, Ryan Dempster.
The Dodgers are supposedly in on Nick Swisher, but of course, only if they can somehow get rid of Ethier. Though the Dodgers' outfield appears packed, Swisher rumors make sense since his wife is an actress and he would be playing in Hollywood.
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