Ethier, Dodgers come to terms: The Dodgers agreed to a one-year, $10.95 million deal with Andre Ethier on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration with the outfielder. The 29-year-old is coming off a down season in which he hit only 11 homers after averaging 24.7 over the previous three. (Updated 01/17/2012)
Injury Report
Knee - Probable for start of spring training (Updated - 1/5/12)
Fantasy Analysis
Ethier had surgery to clean out an area behind his kneecap in September. He was playing with loose skin underneath the kneecap for much of the season -- an injury that forced him to miss almost all of the season's final month. You have to think the injury had some impact on his performance, especially since his power numbers were so much lower than usual. Ethier should be healthy in time for spring training. With a bounce-back season a distinct possibility, he's worth drafting among the top 30 outfielders. (Updated 01/17/2012).
01/05/2012 17:30 The A's are rebuilding yet again, and all they get is this Coco Crisp jersey
Moneyball is long gone and the A's are in a constant state of rebuilding. But what are they building for? Scott Miller looks at a ravaged roster of no-names and wonders when -- if ever -- Oakland will turn serious about contending.
Andre Ethier slumped badly last season, particularly in the second half, but he provided an explanation late in the year. He revealed in late August that he had been bothered by an injury to his right knee, and he wound up having season-ending surgery shortly thereafter. Ethier had been a consistent power hitter over the preceding three years, so his claim that his injury affected his production is credible. His batting eye and line drive power remained intact, so assuming Ethier enters spring training fully healed from his surgery, he should return as a reliable producer for owners in standard mixed leagues. He can be drafted as a low-end No. 2 or high-end No. 3 OF in those formats. (Updated 1/4/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
