Yasiel Puig was placed on the 15-day disabled list over the weekend with a strained hamstring. Carl Crawford tore his oblique on Monday and could potentially miss months of action. Andre Ethier will now get more playing time after logging just 30 at-bats in his first 15 games.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been trying to trade Ethier for much of the offseason and rumors suggested the team was willing to pay "about half" of the remaining money on his contract, which would be around $28 million. Even that couldn't entice other clubs to deal for the veteran outfielder, likely because he's coming off his worst season where he got the least amount of playing time in his career. He would still cost over $9 million per year over the next three seasons with the financial help from Los Angeles.
It was suggested earlier this month that the Dodgers would need to give Ethier more playing time if they still hope to trade him. That could now become a reality.
"With an injury to Crawford, the Dodgers could split playing time in left field among Guerrero, Scott Van Slyke and Andre Ethier. At the moment, Ethier is playing right field in place of the injured Yasiel Puig," writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
During Puig's absence, which was sporadic until he hit the DL on Saturday, Ethier is 8-for-24 with seven runs scored, two home runs and six RBIs in seven games. These are the games where he played on a full-time basis, as opposed to the ones where he served as a pinch hitter or came on as a substitute in later innings. The 33-year-old is batting .310/.412/.548 with nine runs scored, two home runs and six RBIs in 18 games this season. If you didn't notice, most of that success has come while he was getting plentiful, consistent playing time.
Ethier's career-worst 2014 campaign may have resulted from his career-low in plate appearances (380) after playing in just 130 games, which was his lowest such total since his rookie season back in 2006. The two-time All-Star is just over two years removed from batting .284/.351/.460 with 79 runs scored, 20 home runs and 89 RBIs, so it wouldn't be surprising if he helps the team offensively as they deal with injuries to key outfielders.
If Ethier can do that before Puig and Crawford return, the Dodgers may have a better trade market to work with.
