The Los Angeles Dodgers and two-time All-Star outfielder Andre Ethier are reportedly close to a five-year, $85 million contract extension that would keep the right fielder in Los Angeles through 2017, and possibly 2018 if his option either vests or is exercised.
Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reported that the deal could be announced as soon as Tuesday. Hernandez also reported the structure of the contract, which runs through Ethier's age-35 and possibly age-36 season:
2013: $13.5 million
2014: $15.5 million
2015: $18 million
2016: $18 million
2017: $17.5 million
2018: $17.5 million option ($2.5 million buyout)
Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reported that the 2018 option could vest with an "easily attainable" number of plate appearances late in the contract.
Ethier's $13.5 million salary would put the Dodgers payroll in 2013 at north of $120 million (including dead money), which doesn't include a first baseman or left fielder, two positions the team could try to upgrade this winter.
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