The Dodgers need to explore the idea of trading Andre Ethier while the right fielder maintains some trade value.
Ethier, 31, is signed through 2017 as part of a six-year/$95.95 million contract that runs until 2017 and includes a vesting option for 2018.
His April started slow as he hit .244/.333/.400 with three home runs and nine RBIs. An odd occurrence given his career batting average of .303 in March and April.
Historically he has hit .304 in May.
Luckily for him, May hasn’t treated him badly. In 18 games this month he is hitting .293/.382/.414 but with just one home run and six RBIs.
These are hardly numbers that would be expected out of a player making just under $16 million per season.
June is where Ethier struggles the most, hitting .260 in the past.
While he could pick it up in July and August, months where he hits .298 and .295 respectively, September and October will kill him.
Long story short, the Dodgers have a talented prospect named Yasiel Puig. You might have heard of him.
If not, you need to share your hiding spot with me.
Puig, 22, is hitting .314/.385/.579 at Double-A Chattanooga with six home runs and 24 RBIs. He has also stolen 10 bases in 14 tries.
There is even Scott Van Slyke.
Van Slyke, 26, has hit three home runs in 16 at-bats. He too is making his case for more playing time.
Which means that Ethier has got to go.
Coach Don Mattingly benched Ethier Wednesday, citing that he wanted to “field the best lineup possible.”
Ethier was 0-for-3 against Wily Peralta, a right-handed pitcher that at 24-years-old would have likely been a prime target for Ethier.
Dealing Ethier shouldn’t be difficult, as teams could simply exchange a bad contract with hopes that he could resurrect in their ball park.
The Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies had been tied to Ethier in recent rumors.
What if the Phillies were to offer up Chase Utley, who could replace Mark Ellis at second base.
The former UCLA Bruin is hitting .272/.339/.475 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs in 44 games.
Their contracts would off-set nicely.
Philadelphia can even look to unload Jimmy Rollins, who is hitting .260/.307/.395 with three home runs and 17 RBIs to go along with four stolen bases in six tries.
Kansas City, Seattle and Texas could wind up being destination for Ethier.
The Dodgers are almost certainly going to seek an option in the infield, but could surprise and check the market’s availability of relievers.
But they need to act now. Puig and/or Van Slyke are ready to produce at least on par with the level Ethier had been, but could very well exceed that with promised playing time.
Should his slump continue, his stock will slip.
Not that it hasn’t dipped far thanks to the recent comments of Mattingly.
While he could become a superstar elsewhere like many ex-Dodgers, the team would benefit more from filling a void rather than simply waiting around for an abundant talent to come around.