The last couple of seasons were difficult for former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier, as in 2016 he broke a bone in his leg fouling a ball off in Spring Training, keeping him out until September.
Then Ethier suffered a back injury in the spring of 2017, which also kept him out until the final month of the season.
Ethier was able to return and contribute in the postseason both years, although it was more of a pinch-hitting role as opposed to the everyday outfield spot that he occupied for a decade before dealing with the injuries.
The 35-year-old is now a free agent and has not drawn much interest on the market. In a recent interview on MLB Network Radio, Ethier said that he still feels he can contribute to a Major League team and wants to continue playing:
“You fight so hard to keep this uniform on. You don’t know when the last day is going to be. I really feel it, I believe it, I can still step in and have a productive Major League at-bat,” Ethier said.
In 12 years with the Dodgers, Ethier slashed .285/.359/.463 with 162 home runs. He was twice named a National League All-Star, in addition to winning a Silver Slugger Award and Gold Glove.
Ethier went 4-for-13 (.308 batting average) with a home run and two RBIs in the 2017 postseason, so he did in some sense prove that he was able to get past the injury to still swing an effective bat.
If Ethier were to sign with another team it would likely be one with the potential to reach the postseason and win a World Series, as that is the only thing missing from his outstanding big league career.
