Semi-OT: Hudson gets $11.5 million from SD

As somebody who was hoping Hudson's value would fall and the Cubs could take a $1 million flyer on him, I am shocked by this. $5.5 million for Hudson for two seasons?

over 1 year ago elgato 58 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

The Padres need a 2B (and a 1B)

with A-Gon off the books, this shows the skeptical fans they will sign somebody, anybody. They have a few bucks to spend, as the payroll was said to go up — a bit, before the loss of Gonzalez.

They are also interested in D. Lee.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Dec 17, 2010 12:20 PM CST reply actions

I can't image this satisfying any fans.

by elgato on Dec 17, 2010 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

It would be a nice way for DLee to bookend his career, though.

I’ve heard the Nat’s are pursuing him, too.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 17, 2010 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

I was talking more about Hudson.

by elgato on Dec 17, 2010 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

Oh, I think Hudson will satisfy some fans.

Everyone around here seems to want to add him to the Cubs roster every off-season — not that it’s necessarily a bad idea. He’s a pretty well-liked player, methinks. I dig the O-Dawg.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 17, 2010 2:10 PM CST up reply actions

He's replacing Eckstein.

So I bet a lot of them will be satisfied with Hudson.

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 17, 2010 7:59 PM CST up reply actions

Lee would hit a ton of fly ball outs in Petco, though

In addition to his double plays.

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Dec 17, 2010 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

Right.

He might not hit 15 HR in 2011 if he signs with the Padres — and that might be a good year. Look what happened to Brian Giles in that park.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2010 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

Hm, good point.

Maybe that’s why he’s apparently favoring the Nats.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 17, 2010 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

Geographically it would make sense for Lee..

… but that’s about it.

I can also see the Angels possibly, maybe having an interest in Lee if Kendry Morales isn’t fully healed.

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Dec 17, 2010 4:00 PM CST up reply actions

…Fangraphs WAR estimate of ~$5 million per win…that’s about right. O-Dawg has been a roughly 2-3 WAR player throughout his career, so he’ll probably be worth around that amount for a couple more seasons. (He’s 33.)

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Dec 17, 2010 12:30 PM CST reply actions

The trouble with those numbers ...

is that they can’t take into account whether paying a certain amount for a certain player makes sense for any particular team. Maybe Hudson will be worth $5.5 million next year, but I think the Cubs could use their money more wisely.

Which is why I was hoping Hudson would be kicking around in February.

by elgato on Dec 17, 2010 1:21 PM CST up reply actions

Hudson was a late signing the past two years IIRC.

But IMO he was the best middle infielder left on the market this year, so it’s not too suprising someone snagged him earlier this time around, although I’m a little suprised it was the Padres (just think, for 1.5 million more they could have kept Gonzalez).

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 17, 2010 7:57 PM CST up reply actions

Gonzalez would have wanted WAY

more cash (not sure what you mean by just 1.5 mil more) and at least 4 years.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Dec 17, 2010 10:49 PM CST up reply actions

damn it!

"That's life, that's what all the people say.
You're riding high in April,
Shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune,
When I'm back on top, back on top in June."
- Big boy Frankie

by lexmarklover on Dec 17, 2010 12:36 PM CST reply actions

You really thought the Cubs were going to sign Hudson?

I don’t think that was ever on their radar.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2010 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, I was hoping for Hudson.

"That's life, that's what all the people say.
You're riding high in April,
Shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune,
When I'm back on top, back on top in June."
- Big boy Frankie

by lexmarklover on Dec 17, 2010 1:09 PM CST up reply actions

If memory serves ...

you’ve hoped for the Cubs to acquire players who were never really on the their radar — like Kevin Millar a couple years back.

Hudson is a decent leadoff option who some of us hoped could be had at a low price around ST. I doubt anybody would have been good with giving him $11 million, but $2 million in March? I would have been down with that. And that’s mainly because I’m not sold on DeWitt or any of our current leadoff options.

by elgato on Dec 17, 2010 1:13 PM CST up reply actions

'leadoff' is not a baseball position...

do some reading on the irrelevance of lineup construction. here’s a good start:

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2010/12/13/1874659/thinking-about-the-line-up

by Asul on Dec 17, 2010 1:34 PM CST up reply actions

Real nice.

Here’s a link to a dictionary, http://dictionary.reference.com/. Why don’t you look up the work ‘courtesy.’

by elgato on Dec 17, 2010 1:36 PM CST up reply actions

argh -- *word

by elgato on Dec 17, 2010 1:41 PM CST up reply actions

no worries...

i’ve overlooked both mistakes.

by Asul on Dec 17, 2010 1:52 PM CST up reply actions

For some....

…. courtesy IS work.

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Dec 17, 2010 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

agreed sir.

"That's life, that's what all the people say.
You're riding high in April,
Shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune,
When I'm back on top, back on top in June."
- Big boy Frankie

by lexmarklover on Dec 17, 2010 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

The Cubs have two second basemen.

You may disagree with that, but because they consider the position filled, they were not looking for a free agent 2B.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2010 6:25 PM CST up reply actions

That's not really the point, Al.

by elgato on Dec 17, 2010 7:31 PM CST up reply actions

It's exactly the point.

Just because some people here would have liked Hudson, doesn’t mean the Cubs would have even considered him.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 18, 2010 9:29 AM CST up reply actions

Consider the irony

The Dodgers had Hudson. They decided Dewitt was the way to go so they let Hudson sign elsewhere. They became disenchanted with Dewitt and traded him for Theriot. So the Cubs now have Dewitt, and some think Hudson should have replaced him.

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Dec 18, 2010 9:57 AM CST up reply actions

And then they traded Theriot...

… for a replacement-level relief pitcher.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 18, 2010 10:31 AM CST up reply actions

And YOU'VE wanted players the Cubs weren't considering.

So don’t get on my case, or anyone else’s, just because you think it’s cool to pine for Kevin Millar but not for Orlando Hudson.

by elgato on Dec 18, 2010 11:29 AM CST up reply actions

Oh, brother.

The Kevin Millar thing again. I thought he could fill a role that the Cubs needed. The Cubs don’t need a second baseman. Now, if you’re talking about starting pitching, that’s a different story.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 18, 2010 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

You need to stop holding others to standards ...

that you’re not holding yourself to, Al. I consider you a friend, but this is getting ridiculous.

The Cubs need a LEADOFF hitter, which is what Hudson is. Yes, they do have a couple second basemen on the roster — but so what? None of them are on multiyear deals that cost much money.

Had Hudson signed with the Cubs to a cheap deal and outplayed Baker or DeWitt for a roster spot in ST, Baker or DeWitt could have easily been cut loose. This type of thing does happen — remember Chad Gaudin a couple years back?

Whichever one of DeWitt and Baker stayed with the Cubs could have backed up Ramirez at third, and Barney would have been the backup shortstop. Hudson is a switch hitter, so he could have even platooned with whichever of our current second basemen stayed around. Note, that I wasn’t advocating that Hudson be signed to a large contract.

I know where you’re going to go next: You’ll say that the Cubs don’t need a leadoff hitter. Well, I’d say that they need a leadoff hitter as much or more so than they needed a backup first baseman/clubhouse goofball a couple years ago.

Seriously, Al — I’m pretty annoyed that your idle speculation about the Cubs, and what you think the team needs, is all and well and good — but if anybody else does it, it’s annoying unless you agree with it.

by elgato on Dec 18, 2010 1:49 PM CST up reply actions

You don't think Baker could lead off against LHP...

… and Fukudome against RHP?

Also, Hudson’s OBP has declined three straight years. It was .338 last year. Cubs leadoff hitters were pretty bad last year, admittedly: they hit .316.

But I didn’t see Hudson as a huge upgrade. Clearly, he’s being overpaid by the Padres.

Go ahead and speculate, but MY OPINION was that speculating about a Hudson signing was meaningless, as the Cubs were not looking in that direction.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 18, 2010 5:40 PM CST up reply actions

I think it's much more reasonable to think the Cubs could sign Hudson

than to believe Fukudome would throw away 14 million and head back to Japan.

GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.

by shoemile on Dec 18, 2010 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

Well, I've seen you state ...

that you are tired of Kosuke leading off that it was a failed experiment last year. And what do the Cubs do when Colvin starts against righties? Are you saying our left-handed hitting second-year guy should be the part of a platoon that only faces lefties? And, Al, you can’t honestly be excited about Jeff Baker leading off.

I agree that the Cubs should have never given Hudson $11 million. But this isn’t about qualifying things with “in my opinion.” It’s about you getting all cranky about people suggesting or speculating BECAUSE IT DOESN’T MESH WITH YOUR SUGGESTIONS OR SPECULATION.

And Shoemile makes a good point below, BTW. There has never been the slightest indication that Kosuke would return to Japan. And yet, you’ve brought it up on multiple occasions.

by elgato on Dec 19, 2010 7:02 AM CST up reply actions

When did I say I didn't like Fukudome leading off?

In fact, he’s a good leadoff man.

OK, your point is taken. Everyone’s entitled to speculate. Fair enough.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 19, 2010 9:05 AM CST up reply actions

IIRC ...

I suggested Colvin at first and Kosuke in right (leading off) last summer (this was before Lou left, I think). I thought you said, basically, ‘been there, done that,’ regarding Kosuke, who wasn’t good in the leadoff spot last season. Maybe I’m wrong … ?

Also, Bruce Levine had mentioned Hudson a couple times this offseason. Now, he did so as speculation (I think) but I wasn’t exactly alone out on this limb.

by elgato on Dec 19, 2010 9:13 AM CST up reply actions

I don't recall saying that...

… but I may have, I don’t necessarily remember everything I’ve posted here.

I’d still be in favor of playing Colvin some at 1B during spring training. If nothing else, that increases his versatility and gives the Cubs another option to back up Pena.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 19, 2010 10:55 AM CST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure you did.

But whatever. Anyway, Colvin should get time in ST at first — as a backup, if nothing else.

by elgato on Dec 19, 2010 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

Weren't considering?

Millar spent an entire spring training with the Cubs. If that’s not considering whether to keep him I don’t know what is.

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Dec 18, 2010 12:55 PM CST up reply actions

I'm talking about two or three years ago.

That’s when Al was suggesting Millar.

by elgato on Dec 19, 2010 6:57 AM CST up reply actions

Meanwhile ...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/12/giants-cubs-discussed-rowand-fukudome-swap.html

by elgato on Dec 17, 2010 1:00 PM CST reply actions

Another thing that seems overblown.

Rowand has $10 million more left on his deal than Fukudome does. Why would the Cubs take that on?

Also, why would they trade an outfielder they don’t need for… an outfielder they don’t need? Makes very little sense.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2010 1:03 PM CST up reply actions

I agree on the money -- clearly, the Giants would have to pay a large portion of the difference.

But Rowand makes more sense as a fourth outfielder than Kosuke, mainly because he can play all three OF positions well and he could platoon with Colvin. That’s assuming that Rowand has anything left — and I’m not really sure that he does.

Anyway, why are you so eager to pull the ‘overblown’ card, Al? Crasnick SAID it was unlikely in his tweet.

by elgato on Dec 17, 2010 1:11 PM CST up reply actions

Then why even bother tweeting it?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2010 6:25 PM CST up reply actions

Well I wanted Hudson, but not for that....

If given the chance I wonder if Barney will take the job from DeWitt?

by TJ11 on Dec 17, 2010 1:08 PM CST reply actions

I think it's possible

GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.

by shoemile on Dec 17, 2010 6:25 PM CST up reply actions

I don't.

I don’t think Barney will hit enough to be an everyday player.

Plus, platooning DeWitt and Baker could make a decent second baseman. I don’t understand why everyone is so down on DeWitt. At 25, he still has a chance to improve.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2010 6:32 PM CST up reply actions

He could.

I just don’t see it happening. What area do you think it’s possible he could improve? I don’t really see him hitting for more power.

GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.

by shoemile on Dec 17, 2010 6:36 PM CST up reply actions

Actually, I do.

He hit 24 doubles last year; I could see him hitting 30 doubles and maybe 10 HR in a full season, maybe get his SLG over .400.

If he were 30 I’d agree with you. But he’s 25.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 18, 2010 9:31 AM CST up reply actions

Well, I hope you're right.

GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.

by shoemile on Dec 18, 2010 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

I could be wrong.

But I think the Cubs can at least give it a one-year shot. If DeWitt doesn’t improve, then in 2012 they can try something else — there may be another 2B available by then.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 19, 2010 9:06 AM CST up reply actions