LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers declined a $17.5 million option for Andre Ethier for 2018 and paid a $2.5 million buyout to make the senior member of the club a free agent Sunday.
Ethier, 35, spent the past two seasons battling serious injuries -- a broken leg in 2016 and a herniated disk in 2017 -- yet rehabbed to make postseason rosters both years.
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But the Dodgers have younger left-handed-hitting outfielders in Joc Pederson, rookie Alex Verdugo and Alvin Toles, the latter coming off a serious knee operation.
Ethier has played his entire 12-year MLB career with the Dodgers after being acquired from Oakland for Milton Bradley in the first trade by former general manager Ned Colletti.
Ethier is a two-time All-Star who won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. In his career he has hit .285 with 162 home runs and an .822 OPS.
He set a franchise record last week playing in his 51st postseason game and drove in the club's final run of the season in Game 7 of the World Series with a pinch-hit single.
Ethier joins other Dodgers free agents Yu Darvish, Curtis Granderson, Franklin Gutierrez, Brandon Morrow, Chase Utley and Tony Watson. Monday is the deadline for the club to make a decision on second baseman John Forsythe. The club has an $8.5 million option for 2018 or a $1 million buyout.