LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers signed outfielder Andre Ethier to a five-year deal through 2017 on Tuesday, keeping him and Matt Kemp together.

It’s the team’s first major move under a new ownership group that includes former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson.

Ethier avoided arbitration last winter, agreeing to a $10.95 million contract for this season. He could have tested free agency at season’s end.

“I knew there were options at the end of the day, but why look at them when the best option is here?” he said.

“A friend of mine said a couple weeks ago, ‘You were meant to play here and you wouldn’t play good anywhere else.’ That kind of rang true and let me think what’s the purpose of holding out a few more months?”