Andre Ethier Doesn’t Speak To Media, Will Meet With Don Mattingly
UPDATE (Feb. 23, 4:20 p.m. PT): According to ESPN’s Mark Saxon, Andre Ethier eventually answered questions:
Having said that about Ethier, he then removed the headphones and graciously answered all questions. I'll have more on what he said tomorrow
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) February 24, 2015
Like Dylan Hernandez reported, which is included below, Saxon tweeted earlier in the day that Ethier was in the clubhouse but ignored reporters.
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With Los Angeles Dodgers position players expected to report by Feb. 25, more began trickling in Monday morning. Among those now in camp are Andre Ethier, Howie Kendrick, Yasiel Puig and Jimmy Rollins.
What separates Ethier from most of his teammates is he enters camp amid uncertainty of what his role will be with the club in 2015. He’s coming off a year in which he played the second-lowest total of games in his career and wasn’t in the talking mood on Monday, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:
Ethier didn't speak to reporters today. Didn't remove his headphones while in the clubhouse.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) February 23, 2015
Prior to the outfielder’s arrival at Camelback Ranch, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman would sit down with Ethier and they didn’t expect there to be any issues, via Ron Cervenka of Think Blue LA:
Mattingly said he & Friedman will have conversation with Ethier today. "Ethier is a pro, I never expect him to be a problem."
— ThinkBlueLA (@Think_BlueLA) February 23, 2015
Once Mattingly settled on an outfield alignment of Carl Crawford in left, Puig in center and Matt Kemp in right field, Ethier completely fell out of favor and didn’t receive consistent playing time. During the offseason Ethier reportedly was nearly dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Dodgers engaged in trade talks with the Baltimore Orioles.
With four years and $71 million remaining on his deal, Ethier’s contract was ranked among the worst in baseball by Grantland’s Jonah Keri. Although Ethier’s status in the Dodgers outfield is up in the air, he’s maintained he wants to remain in Los Angeles as a starter.
In order for that to be the case, the 32 year old will need to beat out Chris Heisey and highly-touted Joc pederson.
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Chris Hatcher Discusses Getting Traded To The Dodgers While Traveling Abroad
They did him a dis service by not getting him out of town. He will only be a starter if Joc falls on his ass.
I hope joc does fall on his ass ethier deserves a shot at starting, mattingly screwed him over last year, mattingly sucks anyway. give ethier a chance and he will take the job away from joc, he should start in center field after another year maybe joc has a lot to prove,more than ethier.