"Any time you're talking about a player of his caliber, at this stage of his career, you're talking about long term," Balelo said. "But people look at long term different ways. Long term to me might be different than long term to ownership."

Hmmm...Final offer - five years & $75,000,000. Build in incentives to where he could earn another $10,000,000 over the life of the contract if he reaches them. Put a club option for a sixth year at $15,000,000, or a $3,000,000 buyout. He could earn a total of $88,000,000 for five years, or $102,000,000 if we exercise the option & he reaches his incentives. That's over 17 million dollars a year. Or he gets a base of $15,000,000 a year. That's $5,000,000 a season less than Kemp, who I feel we got at a hometown discount. If we haven't acquired a better first baseman by then, Andre can be moved to the infield later on. Andre would be 35 at the end of five years. He isn't getting a Jayson Werth / Carl Crawford type contract out of the Dodgers if that's what he's thinking. Let him have a limited no-trade clause.

Good news, hope he stays.

Good thinking. I definitely agree with that type of figure at first glance.

Yeah. Crawford got a lot more money, & Werth will be 38 at the end of his contract. This one is a good solid offer but not insane, IMO.

Probably should have just kept Milton Bradly and we wouldnt have to worry about Andre Ethiers extension costs! :D

i could see him getting that. i wouldn't mind 15 million per season, but personally i wouldn't give him that many years. if i were in charge i would give a little more per year but for just 3 years with a club/vesting option for a fourth year. maybe 3 years 50 million with a club/vesting option for 17 mil.

but 5/75 would be reasonable. i wouldnt LOVE it, but i wouldnt hate it either. good thing about the sale is i doubt anything would be done before the sale is completed may 1. this would give the front office a solid month to see him play before an extension is signed.

ethier really is in a great position. the new owners want to do something big, and if ethier comes out of the gates on fire i think their first move would be to give him a long term extension. ultimately i think if he is in the new front office's long term plans there is no way they will wait till the off season to lock him up.

"ultimately i think if he is in the new front office's long term plans there is no way they will wait till the off season to lock him up."

I would have to agree, given his place among the fans' favorites, his tenure with the Dodgers, and the limited FA OF positions for this upcoming year.

I just hope he doesn't get pissy again..

Oh my God, that happens to you too??

He's only been worth $15 million or more once in his career. That deal would be more than fair.

Andre.....what are you doing? Just play and tell your agent to shut up.

" He isn't getting a Jayson Werth / Carl Crawford type contract out of the Dodgers if that's what he's thinking. Let him have a limited no-trade clause. "

I remember the Mets saying that same thing to Reyes.

"I remember the Mets saying that same thing to Reyes."

Did Reyes get that contract out of the Mets? No. He got $106,000,000 out of the Marlins. Let the Giants have Ethier if he can get that kind of money out of them. I like Andre & all, but 100 million dollars for a guy turning 30, & with a history of injuries, is simply too much of a financial committment. And knowing the Giants' luck, Andre may very well turn into another Zito / Rowand type of investment. Our pockets get deeper while they deplete their limited resources. Our way of saying 'thank you for Schmidt & Uribe.'

Well, if Andre is healthy {plus he's playing for a contract, & the cloud over Dodger Stadium is finally lifting} I wouldn't expect him to go into funks like he has in the past. But there's no way I would guarantee Ethier over 100 million dollars at his age & with his injury history. Like Zeph said - the contract I proposed is actually MORE than fair. It's the Dodgers' way of showing faith & loyalty in a long-time employee. Faith that he can rebound from 2011. Loyalty in that we really want him back, & are willing to make him a very rich man by doing so.

^Yup. Good post.

I don't think he's worth 100 mil. either, the way you mention the loyalty and faith stuff has the Dodgers looking good, now let's see some of that same loyalty and faith from Eithier.

I was only pointing out that he may not be worth 100 mil. to the Dodgers as Reyes wasn't to the Mets, just saying he'll get the money being the biggest name out there next year (I think), just hope the Dodgers don't over pay.

I find myself wishing that Colletti is not involved in the decision ( how much for Andre,alternatives,etc) Just don't trust his judgment

I can't see him signing any contract for less than 100 million over at least 5 years. If not here, another club. It's part of the current inflation rate of MLB salaraies.