Andre Ethier's new world order: The contented ballplayer

And now on to the new Andre Ethier. The happy Andre Ethier, the contented one.

Better hope this one can play.

All that stuff about his being motivated by insecurity and a perception that others doubted him, questioned him, lacked faith in him — all vanished with the flick of a pen.

There will be no more stimuli found in having to prove others wrong, even if they were really Ethier boosters all along. No more getting miffed over teammates receiving long-term contracts. No more questioning if his future is really with the Dodgers.

When Ethier signed his five-year, $85-million contract Tuesday it opened a new world. One where he is recognized as an elite player, where there can be no more inner debate whether he is valued.

Said Ethier: “It's always something I've struggled with, I'm not going to lie. It's been a draining, tough process for me to get this point. I admit I've made a lot of mistakes. There are a lot of things I would have done differently along the way. I guess you only learn as time goes on.”

Ethier was beaming Tuesday, and if you just made $85 million you’d probably be beaming too. But he has been something of a different player thus far into the season. No brooding, no funks, no single-finger salute to photographers, no single-word answers to reporters, no more getting in his own way.

In hopeful foreshadowing, he has seemed content all season and managed to perform at a high level. He has been willing to take the No. 2 spot behind Matt Kemp. He has talked more about winning and the team. Has just generally seems more comfortable.

“I’m living out a dream,” Ethier said. “Beyond this [contract], I’m living out a dream playing baseball in the major leagues. The biggest thing I realized after the ups and downs of this game is how much you take for granted the opportunity to play in the major leagues.

“I’m standing here 30 years old and I’m still putting on a uniform for a living, which is unbelievable. You don’t realize how many times in your career you took that for granted. It’s something I made a point not to do all year, not to take this game for granted. You don’t know how many more years you get to play.”

Well, he’ll be paid for at least five more years, and maybe six. And the plan is, all for the Dodgers.

“Things are going to be special here for a long time,” Ethier said.

Maybe this happy, relaxed Ethier can perform at an even higher level that the one motivated by insecurity. For the Dodgers and Ethier, that journey has just begun.

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