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Report: Dodgers Shopping Andre Ethier, Could Make Run at Nick Swisher

The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t done their offseason overhaul just yet, apparently.

The Dodgers, who have been giving their franchise a very pricey facelift in the last four or five months, are still exploring options. According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, the Dodgers are now shopping outfielder Andre Ethier. Given Ethier’s huge contract and the Dodgers’ astronomical spending spree this offseason, that might make sense on the surface. However, Feinsand also reports that if the Dodgers can move Ethier, they could hop into the sweepstakes for free-agent outfielder Nick Swisher.

Source: Dodgers shopping Andre Ethier. If they deal him, they could be in the mix for Nick Swisher.

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Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) December 18, 2012

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal followed that up with a confirmation of the Dodgers’ interest in moving Ethier.

Have heard same as @FeinsandNYDN: #Dodgers shopping Ethier. Story coming on Foxsports.com.

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Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 18, 2012

It makes sense that the Dodgers would look to unload Ethier’s contract, especially given their recent spending spree, which brought in the high-priced contracts of players like Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Zack Greinke. It is a little odd that the Dodgers would be willing to move on from Ethier so quickly after signing the veteran outfielder to a five-year, $85 million contract extension during the 2012 season.

However, Swisher won’t come cheap, especially if the Dodgers get involved, adding a big-market spender to the hunt. The Dodgers are also reportedly looking to sign ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw to a long-term contract extension. Kershaw is one of the best pitchers in the game, and after giving a historical contract to Greinke, it makes sense that Kershaw will be paid very, very handsomely if an extension is agreed upon.