Ethier: Offseason not affected by trade rumors

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier, in town for a charity appearance at the Union Rescue Mission, said on Monday that he's ignored recent trade rumors and is happy being a Dodger.

Ethier served lunch to visitors of the Mission and was shown renderings of a learning center that will be renovated with a $75,000 donation from Ethier and his wife, Maggie.

Ethier said it has been easy to shrug off the trade rumors leading up to last week's Winter Meetings, because he lived with similar speculation a year ago.

"I thought I handled it last year from the year before -- it's the same old stuff," he said of the trade talk. "I prepare every offseason to make myself better to make the team win. I'm a Dodger until I'm told otherwise. That's why I'm here today.

"I stand here today still a Dodger after all the rumors. I'm moving forward with the organization and happy to be where I'm at."

Ethier said he just resumed running after allowing the microfracture in his lower left leg to heal.

"No aches or pains when I run, just a little tender to the touch," he said. "But nothing to hold me back from moving on to the next stage."