Ned Colletti wants to explore signing Andre Ethier to a contract extension soon after new owners take over the Dodgers next week. "I've always been inclined to keep him," Colletti said. "His start certainly hasn't hurt." Ethier will be eligible for free agency when his one-year, $10.95-million deal expires at the end of the season. Nez Balelo, Ethier's agent, has said the outfielder would be open to negotiating a multiyear deal with the team's new owners during the season. "We understand the position the Los Angeles Dodgers organization was in," Balelo said at the end of spring training. "We understand we had to be patient while the transition took place. If new ownership has interest in having discussions to keep Andre here in Los Angeles for years to come, yes, we would be open to having those discussions."