Orlando Hudson?

by Speedforthewin on Oct 3, 2008 10:20 AM PDT

Orlando Hudson is a to be FA this offseason, after playing the last 3 seasons for the D'Backs. I realize that the organization has made a statement of not signing big free agents, but who are we kidding, this is the Giants, and they sign Free Agents readily. Orlando Hudson is the best 2B on the FA market, having a reputation for excellent defense (2 consecutive Gold Gloves at 2B) and sporting a career line of .282/.346/.779. However, that does not reflect his offensive performance since he joined the D'Backs in '06. From '06 to '08, Hudson has posted an avg of over .285, OBP of over .350 and OPS of over .800. He has battled some injuries, including playing in only 107 games this season. Let's examine the pros and cons of signing O. Hudson:

Pros:

Fills a position of need for the Giants.
Plays excellent defense, which would strengthen a bad defensive infield for the Giants.
Is certainly no slouch with the bat. While not a game changer, his presence in the lineup would definitely help an anemic offense.
Hudson's presence would allow Kevin Frandsen to play 3B, which while not ideal, would keep the Giants from spending money or trading for a big name 3B.
Although Hudson has been injury prone, the Giants are one team that could handle him going down for a month, with Velez, Denker and Franny available to pick up time in the event of an injury.

Cons:

His presence on the Giants would most certainly stunt the growth of at least 1 of 3 players: Kevin Frandsen, Travis Ishikawa or Eugenio Velez. If Frandsen and Sandoval see the majority of the time at the corner infield spots, Ishikawa would see next to no time, unless Sandoval splits time between 1B and 3B and ishikawa gets 2 starts a week. Velez will see next to no time at 2B and would be limited to 1 start a week and pinch hitting, pinch running duties.
He certainly would not come cheap. Hudson made ~6 mil this year and is the best 2B in a fairly weak 2B class, so he will get paid well, and the Giants recent track record of FA deals is not in their favor.
Injury prone.

I believe that Hudson would be a great addition to the Giants, but only at the right price. The Giants would be best served to over pay for a shorter term deal, like a 3 year deal, and abandon the ideal if Hudson rejects it.

What do you think, Orlando Hudson for 2009 2B?

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Comments

While I’m weary of the rosterbation posts lately, I can actually see the Giants doing this deal. I suppose it wouldn’t be awful.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 3, 2008 10:25 AM PDT 0 recs

I drink a lot of beer because I don’t trust the water.

Greetings, Marklar! I am Marklar! This is Marklar.

by marklar on Oct 3, 2008 6:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

I don’t get it.

Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.

by groug on Oct 3, 2008 9:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

depends on the deal. Having Ray Durham wasn’t horrible, but by the end of his contract we were ready for him to leave. If the contract isn’t exorbitant, it would be a great pickup

Todd Jennings: If he's on the DL, he can't suck as much, right?

by Speedforthewin on Oct 3, 2008 10:39 AM PDT 0 recs

reply fail

Todd Jennings: If he's on the DL, he can't suck as much, right?

by Speedforthewin on Oct 3, 2008 10:39 AM PDT up 0 recs

If we sign Hudson, we tilt Sabean's delicate roster balance.

It would give us 12 center fielders and 13 second basemen.

by Moggeee on Oct 3, 2008 10:43 AM PDT 0 recs

Depth

Up the middle!

Sergio Romo will gladly hand you a bench to sit on / GIANTSPACE™ / Adopted brother of the AnVil

by SoFa King Mike on Oct 3, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up 0 recs

Especially with the talk of carrying three catchers next year!

What man? Which man? Who’s the man? When’s a man a man? What makes a man a man? Am I a man? Yes. Technically I am. - FotC

by jcb9 on Oct 3, 2008 11:00 AM PDT up 0 recs

Hudson could be done

Word through the grapevine here in AZ is that Hudson’s injury could be career threatening and that he’ll at least never be the same hitter.

And is Franny really a serious option at 3rd? I hope not…

by Fresburg on Oct 3, 2008 10:46 AM PDT 0 recs

wow

I hope Hudson isn’t done. that would be very sad. as for Frandsen, he’s as good as any waiver wire pickup could do at 3B in my eyes. It’s better than the Cain for (insert player here) possibilities, IMO

Todd Jennings: If he's on the DL, he can't suck as much, right?

by Speedforthewin on Oct 3, 2008 10:48 AM PDT up 0 recs

Possible damaged goods who is going to take a lotta years and a lotta money. No Thank you. I’ll take my chances with the inhouse options.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

by WilliamVanLandingham on Oct 3, 2008 10:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

This would be the correct answer.

your 2008 SF Giants: this isn’t totally insane, just really stupid

by Lyle on Oct 4, 2008 9:09 AM PDT up 0 recs

Damn that’s too bad about Hudson.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Oct 3, 2008 11:57 AM PDT up 0 recs

rumor had it

That Zito was done and that didn’t stop us from signing him

Proud father of Eric Surcamp!

by The Thrill on Oct 3, 2008 6:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

We have plenty of 2B’s

Are any of them as good as Hudson? No

Will any of them cost 5 years/60 million? No

Hudson would be a horrible idea for this team

Do you Wazzel?

by NeifiChicken on Oct 3, 2008 10:51 AM PDT 0 recs

100% correct. But it is so Sabean.

by out machine on Oct 3, 2008 11:14 AM PDT up 0 recs

Thank You, but no

by dogdays on Oct 3, 2008 10:53 AM PDT 0 recs

NO THANKS

by satyricrash on Oct 3, 2008 11:15 AM PDT 0 recs

ITS A TRAP

I see the future, and it is Pablo

by CB30 on Oct 3, 2008 1:38 PM PDT up 0 recs

I think I define “position of need” very very differently than you do.

Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.

by groug on Oct 3, 2008 11:19 AM PDT 0 recs

reverse cowgirl

Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.

by delorean on Oct 3, 2008 11:47 AM PDT up 0 recs

Si

by wilriv21 on Oct 3, 2008 11:48 AM PDT up 0 recs

Can he play third?

Giants! Giants! HELP US GOD!

by j14 on Oct 3, 2008 1:26 PM PDT 0 recs

No thanks

Hudson is not “excellent” defensively anymore. His injuries have taken a toll, and there is no way he’d be as good offensively in this ballpark IMO. He’d probably hit like 1 HR. Why waste a bunch of money on someone who likely won’t be much better than who we already have?

by Hobbes2d on Oct 3, 2008 5:51 PM PDT 0 recs

in all fairness

He’s a huge step up from Velez and Frandsen. He can catch a ball unlike Velez and he has a lot more range than Frandsen. He’s definitely a good 2nd baseman. And he is also a good hitter. His homers don’t matter too much because he’s a consistant .290 hitter and he can hit to the gaps. He’s a good player, but I think he’s a bad fit for us.

by boonitez on Oct 3, 2008 7:05 PM PDT up 0 recs

Meh

As long as we’re gonna at best be good, but not playoff good, next year, why not let Denker, Velez, and Frandsen duke it out? I’m sure one of them could turn into a decent 2nd baseman. Denker’s been hitting well at AAA, Velez sucks balls but maybe he can get the whole everything besides running thing down, and Frandsen was looking great before he fucked his achilles up. I think Frandsen in particular has a good shot. I really see no need for Hudson. It’d make more sense for us to chase a FA 1B or SS than it would a 2B because we already have a lot of cantidates for that position.

by boonitez on Oct 3, 2008 7:03 PM PDT 0 recs

I, too, prefer to give our minor leaguers a shot at second. Spend the big bucks elsewhere, or save it.

Less arm, more talk. Raisingcain is a GAMER.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa

by raisingcain on Oct 3, 2008 9:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

one ticket please!

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

by daveinexile on Oct 4, 2008 9:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

Like others have said above, Hudson would not give us enough lift to be worth the money.

Zooperstars, they quack me up!

by Goofus on Oct 4, 2008 9:53 AM PDT 0 recs

priorities

you may not like our options at 2nd base with Frandsen, Velez, Denker, et al, but at least they’re options. We have NO Options at 3rd base, except Sandoval, and Sabes has already penciled him in at 1st base, so that basically leaves nobody.

If we’re gonna spend money on free agents, they should at least fill a position in which we have no players who can play it.

Bonds stands alone.

Proud adopted parent of future big league slugger Thomas Neal

by nostocksjustbonds on Oct 4, 2008 10:14 AM PDT 0 recs