The defending National League West Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers have a bit of a crowded outfield and it has led to speculation that the team may deal one of their outfielders, but Andre Ethier isn't concerned about the trade speculation that he finds himself involved in.
Ethier, who served lunch to visitors at the Union Rescue Mission on Monday said he wasn't concerned about his name being involved in trade rumors at last week's Winter Meetings and into this offseason because he's heard it all through the years.
"I thought I handled it last year from the year before -- it's the same old stuff," he told MLB.com about the trade speculation. "I prepare every offseason to make myself better to make the team win. I'm a Dodger until I'm told otherwise. That's why I'm here today."
While Ethier isn't worried, the Dodgers could be prepared to move him due to the emergence of Yasiel Puig joining an outfield that consists of oft-injured big money players Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford--who could be harder to deal.
"I stand here today still a Dodger after all the rumors. I'm moving forward with the organization and happy to be where I'm at," Ethier said via MLB.com.
Ethier dealt with an injury in 2013 and he has just resumed running after allowing a microfracture in his lower left leg to heal.
"No aches or pains when I run, just a little tender to the touch," Ethier said about the leg after running on it, according to MLB.com. "But nothing to hold me back from moving on to the next stage."
Ethier was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2003 draft but has played his entire eight-year career in Los Angeles with the Dodgers.
The Dodgers won the NL West for the first time since 2009 last season with a 92-70 record. After defeating the Atlanta Braves in four games in the NL Division Series, the team fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series in six games.
Ethier hit .272 through 142 games last year with 12 homers and 52 RBIs.
It remains to be seen if Ethier will be moved, but for now he's not bothered at all by the talking.
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