Dodgers rumors: Ethier not on trading block

The Los Angeles Dodgers have talked about acquiring free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter, but are not willing to trade Andre Ethier to make room for him in the outfield, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:

#Dodgers not trading Ethier. Hunter would need to accept lesser role if he signed with team. He’s close with both Kemp and Crawford.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 10, 2012

Ethier, 30, agreed to a five-year, $85 million contract extension with the Dodgers in June. While the right fielder does not have a no-trade clause, that amount of money tied to an outfielder over thirty may have made him tough to move anyways. The veteran lefty slugger hit .284/.351/.460 with twenty home runs in one hundred forty-nine games this season.

Hunter's agent met with the Dodgers during last week's general manager meetings at Indian Wells and communicated that Hunter is seeking a multi-year deal, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Dodgers could be willing to take on the veteran outfielder, but only in a limited role, which Hunter has stated he may not be ready for:

"That’s tough. I’m not ready for that. I have too much energy and fire for that."

But Hunter said he would like to play with Matt Kemp, whom he called "my little brother in this game."

Hunter, 37, put together one of his best offensive seasons in 2012, hitting .313/.365/.451 with sixteen home runs in one hundred forty games.