Outfielder Andre Ethier agreed to a one-year, $10.95 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, avoiding salary arbitration, according to a tweet from Ethier's agency. Ethier also has a chance to earn up to $50,000 in performance bonuses, per Tony Jackson of ESPN LA: $25,000 for each of 600 and 625 plate appearances.
Ethier, who will turn 30 on April 10, hit .292/.368/.421 with 11 home runs in 135 games. He became the second Dodger ever with a 30-game hitting streak in 2011, falling one game shy of the club record, set by Willie Davis in 1969. Ethier had his season hampered by a knee injury that not only sapped most of his power but also ended his season in earlier September, when Ethier and the club jointly decided to have surgery and end his season.
Despite having his season cut short, Ethier did hit 30 doubles in 2011, his fifth consecutive season with at least 30 two-baggers, joining Jackie Robinson as the only Dodgers in history to accomplish that feat. Ethier also made his second consecutive All-Star team and captured his first Gold Glove award in 2011.
Ethier made $9.25 million in 2011 in the second season of a two-year, $15.25 million contract signed after the 2009 campaign. Last week on True Blue LA, I surmised that Ethier would earn $13 million in 2012 based on performance and comparable players.
The Dodgers have $72.6 million committed to 15 players in 2012, plus a little over $22.2 million in dead money, paid to players no longer on the roster.
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