PHOENIX — The Dodgers are on the verge of another bargain-bin addition, agreeing on a one-year deal with three-time Gold Glove second baseman Orlando Hudson on Friday, according to baseball sources.
The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal was pending because Hudson had to take a physical.
Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti declined to confirm or deny the agreement. Hudson's agent, Greg Genske, couldn't be reached by phone or e-mail.
Terms of the deal weren't immediately available, but MLB.com reported that it was worth $3.4 million and had incentive clauses that could raise its total value to $8 million.
Hudson, 31, has a career average of .282 over seven major league seasons, including the last three with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He went into the off-season looking for a multi-year deal worth around $10 million a season, but the slow free-agent market, combined with the uncertain condition of his left wrist that he dislocated last season, caused his value to fall.
That made Hudson an ideal candidate for the Dodgers, who made it a point to sign Rafael Furcal and Randy Wolf to budget-conscious deals this winter and entered spring training with converted third baseman Blake DeWitt as their tentative starter at second.
What this means for the 23-year-old DeWitt remains unclear.
If the Dodgers fail to re-sign Manny Ramirez, they could move third baseman Casey Blake to left field and DeWitt to third. If Ramirez returns, DeWitt probably will play off the bench or, more likely, be sent to triple-A Albuquerque.
DeWitt was gracious when told of the acquisition of Hudson.
"He's a phenomenal player, definitely someone I can learn from," DeWitt said.
Also losing a shot at starting is Tony Abreu, the once-promising but injury-prone infield prospect who drew the praise of the coaching staff's resident fielding savant, Larry Bowa. Abreu, who said he has recovered from abdominal problems that forced him to miss most of the last 1 1/2 seasons, took early infield practice Friday morning under Bowa's critical eye.
"Not just good, very good," Bowa said. "He's got tools, man. Quickness, quick feet, good arm. There are no guarantees, though."
That lack of assurance was probably why the Dodgers turned to Hudson, especially at his lowered price.
