There seems to be a big push on MetsBlog to go after Andre Ethier. Why?
For all the complaining we did about Jason Bay and the way that debacle worked out, do we really want to get involved in another sequel so soon after? I hate sequels!
Consider the following:
- Andre Ethier is owed a guaranteed $71.5 million over the next four years. That’s $5.5 million more than Jason Bay’s four year, $66 million deal.
- Andre Ethier will be 32 years old in 2014 when his remaining four year obligation kicks in. That’s two years older than Jason Bay was when we signed him at age 30.
- Andre Ethier is in the throws of a terrible season for him. Jason Bay was in the Top 3 in the American League in Home Runs, RBI, Total Bases, Walks and Slugging Percentage when the Mets signed him.
- Andre Ethier in 2013: .258/.338/.356 with 5 home runs and 25 RBI in 279 at-bats.
- Jason Bay in 2009: .267/.384/.537 with 36 home runs and 119 RBI in 531 at-bats.
Plus the other thing is that we would have to give up prospects to get Ethier. Bay only cost us money.
As of today, Ethier is owed about $80 million on the five-year deal he signed less than a year ago — mid-June of last year.
2013: $13.5 million
2014: $15.5 million
2015: $18 million
2016: $18 million
2017: $17.5 million
2018: A $2.5 million buyout on a $17.5 million vesting option.
Did we wait three freaking years to get rid of bad contracts only to free up money to add more bad contracts?
Has history taught us anything?
