Dodgers near signing Andre Ethier to five-year, $85-million deal

By Steve Dilbeck

June 11, 2012 12 AM PT

The Dodgers’ new ownership group appears ready to make its first significant move.

The Dodgers are close to announcing a five-year contract extension with Andre Ethier that would guarantee him $85 million, The Times’ Dylan Hernandez is reporting. A sixth-year vesting option could raise the total value to $100 million.

The deal is expected to be announced Tuesday.

The contract would be the third-largest in Dodgers history, trailing only Matt Kemp ($160 million) and Kevin Brown ($105 million).

Hernandez said the deal is structured to earn Ethier $13.5 million in 2013, $15.5 million in 2014, $18 million in 2015, $18 million in 2016, $17.5 million in 2017, and $17.5 million or a $2.5-million buyout in 2018.

The vesting option is based on plate appearances.

The signing of Ethier, who currently leads the National League with 52 RBIs, would secure the Dodgers’ two cornerstone position players for at least the next five years.

Ethier, 30, is a two-time All-Star. He entered Monday’s game batting .292 with 10 home runs.

Parameters of the deal were first reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.

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