Let’s Talk About Orlando Hudson

February 18, 2009 at 4:49 pm | Posted in Blake DeWitt, Orlando Hudson | 14 Comments

We’ve mentioned this possibility in passing a few times, but now today there’s this from Ken Gurnick and his unfortunately-named blog:

The collapse of the free-agent market has dropped second baseman Orlando Hudson’s contract demands to a level that interests the Dodgers, and general manager Ned Colletti confirmed Wednesday that talks are ongoing.

Colletti said he has payroll “flexibility” unrelated to efforts to sign Manny Ramirez which Colletti said continue, He added that interest in Hudson does not mean he lacks confidence in Blake DeWitt, who came into Spring Training as the incumbent second baseman after the retirement of Jeff Kent.

“I’m big on inventory,” Colletti said.

Inventory’s nice, but is it worth it in this case? Hudson is probably looking for between $4-$5m on a one-year deal, which is a steal for a first-time free agent who made $6.25m last year, the fourth year in a row in which his OPS+ improved. Plus, while he’s no longer the defensive vaccuum he once was, he’d still be a huge improvement over Jeff Kent, and probably also over the mostly untested Blake DeWitt with the glove.

So hey, why not take advantage of the down economy like the women I saw ransacking Old Navy’s 75% off sale this weekend?

Well, the big problem would be that Hudson is a Type A free agent, which means that signing him would send the 17th pick in the first round of the 2009 draft directly to the division rival Diamondbacks. That may not seem like much, but keep in mind that other 17th overall picks in the last fifteen years have included Cole Hamels, David Murphy, LA’s own Scott Elbert, Brad Lidge, and Roy Halladay. Is that the kind of lottery ticket we want to be handing to the main competition in the division for just one year of Hudson?

Besides, while Hudson would most likely be an upgrade over DeWitt, what would the cost of displacing DeWitt be? Sure, Hudson will outperform DeWitt in 2009. But when both were 22, as DeWitt was last year, both players put up nearly identical OPS (.727 vs .730). The main difference, of course, is that while DeWitt was doing it in the bigs, Hudson was doing it in single and double A ball. I have no idea what kind of player DeWitt will turn out to be, but I do know that I’m very interested in finding out.

Now, there is one other option in which both Hudson and DeWitt could stay on the field, and that’s to shift DeWitt back to third base and push Casey Blake out to left field. It’s certainly not an ideal situation, but swapping out Juan Pierre for Hudson in the lineup is without question a huge win. Of course, that presupposes that Manny Ramirez won’t be returning to town, and in that case, ending up with Hudson instead of Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu (both superior hitters who wouldn’t cost a draft pick) would have to be seen as a huge failure.

So, sure, Hudson’s a good player. He’d probably even help the team in 2009. But I just can’t stomach sending a first round pick to a division rival for one year of (likely) impeding DeWitt’s development. Pass.

14 Comments »

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Couple of points: First, the D-Backs are are going to get SOMEBODY’s pick, so giving them the pick isn’t a big deal. Losing one is. But then, it’s just a one year loss, isn’t it? Won’t we get somebody else’s next year if he leaves?
Second, I think it would be really nice to have a backup for the infield. It seems mighty likely that either injuries or slumps are going to require another infielder for 3B/SS/2B and I’d rather look at Hudson/DeWitt than Hu/Abreu/Loretta.
Oh, and it’s not my money.
I’d rather have a good starting pitcher, but there’s none left. Maybe this can help with a trade.

Comment by Dodger Doodle— February 18, 2009 #

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I think giving them the pick IS a big deal because A) if a team that’s already given up their first round pick for another free agent ranked higher than Hudson signs him, the D-Backs would get a 2nd round pick rather than a first, and B) it doesn’t have to be US that helps them.
We’d only get a first round pick next year if Hudson is again ranked as a Type A, which is no certainty.

Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— February 18, 2009 #

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I agree with signing Hudson because even though we lost the notorious sinkerballer Lowe, our staff is still very much a groundball-inducing staff, and maybe it would give our young pitchers (and our reclamation projects) more confidence to pitch towards contact if they know they have a solid to good infield backing them up. Draft picks don’t always turn out to be stars, and that 17th draft pick may get traded, get hurt, or turn out to not be able to cut it at the major league level, so the cost of signing Hudson may not be that bad. Who knows, maybe we can do some kind of sign-and-trade deal with Arizona.

Comment by Miller— February 18, 2009 #

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I think Hudson is going to be a Dodger. Colletti loves Inventory as he said and he has had no problem sending away draft picks for the short term. It’s just a matter of time. Interesting fact on the 17th picks though.
Scott
http://www.sfdodgerfan.com

Comment by SFdodgerfan— February 18, 2009 #

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If the McCourt’s are going with the “youth movement” then every draft pick could be important, especially a first round draft pick. Dodger Doodle makes a good point though, signing Hudson could make Blake DeWitt nice trade bait. Starting pitching is going to be the Dodgers weak point this year, so having a nice surplus of position players(especially young,cheap ones) may come in handy at the trade deadline.
I would prefer to give DeWitt the opportunity to play 2B this season, and hang on to that draft pick.

Comment by Bluboy— February 18, 2009 #

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Your boys Russell Martin and Juan Pierre made the MLB Speed Demons Team: http://morehardball.blogspot.com/2009/02/speed-demons-all-stolen-base-team.html

Comment by B-Dizzle— February 19, 2009 #

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If the McCourts were going with the “youth movement” they would’ve made better efforts to sign Kyle Blair, Alex White and Zack Cox. As they are afraid of going over Bud Lite’s directives on slot bonuses, it is all talk to me.
Even though I agree that losing the #17 pick is a bad move, if by signing Hudson, we can move DeWitt in a package for an ace, then it is a good move. But, if DeWitt is going to languish on the bench, Neddie will have screwed the pooch on this move, no matter what kind of season Hudson has.

Comment by grabarkewitz— February 19, 2009 #

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Nobody’s mentioned it, but I recall that getting Hudson may be the only good option if we don’t land Manny. Hudson would play 2B, DeWitt moves back to 3rd, and you try Casey Blake in LF. It’s a defensive upgrade over Juan Pierre’s pop-gun arm.
It may only be a marginal upgrade over his offense, however. As Baseball Prospectus points out, he has the worst Isolated Power of any player in the majors with 400 AB’s, but he still gives you 40 SB and he hit .280. If we don’t get Manny, I have a hard time breaking camp with Pierre in Left, and Hudson may be the last chance for something else.
Still, I’m praying for Manny.

Comment by Mike Sharperson Lives!— February 19, 2009 #

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What kind of starting pitcher can we get with a package that revolves around Dewitt, he doesn’t seem to have mucha value, it only happens if we add a Carlos Santana-esque prospect into the mix, and I haven’t gotten over that stupid trade.
If we would be okay with Casey Blake starting in LF because he is an upgrade over Pierre, than why not give Delwyn Young or maybe even Jason Repko a shot, they are both upgrades defensively (Repko) & offensively (Young) over Pierre.

Comment by OhMy...— February 19, 2009 #

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A question that has to be asked is if Pierre is are starting LF, where is his role in the lineup? If Torre sees him as a top-of-the-order hitter, speed combo with Furcal, than will getting Hudson place him in that 2nd spot instead of Pierre or is Pierre a bottom-of-the -order hitter, if that is the case then we’re not leaning on him offensively, then why not our best defensive outfield possible.
If Pierre is our stating LF, what is the lineup?

Comment by OhMy...— February 19, 2009 #

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just a question. What is the date a type A or B player could be signed without giving up a draft pick? Cuz, if the Dodgers want Hudson, but don’t really need him why not wait to sign him until then. If he is available get him and don’t lose a draft pick, if not oh well. Overall, I agree, he may be good for a year but blocking Dewitt may not be worth it.

Comment by Gillbertb— February 19, 2009 #

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9 – I’d LOVE to play Delwyn over Pierre, but we both know it’ll never happen. Either way, if we don’t get Manny, then not getting Dunn or Abreu has to be seen as a disaster.
10 – If Pierre’s in the lineup every day, it’ll probably be 2nd, which is a COMPLETE DISASTER.
11 – The draft pick compensation goes away at the draft, which is sometime in June. I can’t see Hudson staying unsigned that long.

Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— February 19, 2009 #

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