According to Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News, Dodgers manager Joe Torre has officially named youngster Andre Ethier as the team’s starting left-fielder over speedster Juan Pierre. Torre said that Juan Pierre will serve as basically a fourth outfielder, pinch hitter and pinch runner. Pretty expensive bench player, huh? Assuming Ethier makes the most of his regular playing time, and doesn’t completely tank, we can expect the Dodgers to try and trade Juan Pierre at some point this season before the July trading deadline. Of course, the organization will have to eat a large portion of his $44 million total contract, as he is only in the second of the 5 years… or eat a moderate portion, and expect basically nothing in return.

Pierre responded to Torre after the news was broke to him with a simple ”OK.” Said Torre on the situation, “I know he’s disappointed, and that’s fine. You don’t want a guy sitting on your bench who just accepts being on the bench.  

Filed under: Los Angeles Dodgers