Returning to the American League after a four-year hiatus in the National League West, Orlando Hudson has signed a one-year $5 million dollar deal with the Minnesota Twins.
A 33-year old switch-hitter most recently of the Los Angeles Dodgers, "O-Dog" will fill the Twins' hole at second base and provide Minnesota with a natural fit in the number two spot in the lineup. Known more for his glove, Hudson most likely completes a series of moves for the 2010 Minnesota Twins, who have also added shortstop J.J. Hardy via trade and possible future Hall of Fame DH Jim Thome via a one-year $1.5 million free agent contract (upgrading an otherwise thin bench).
Hudson definitely provides some positional stability for the Twins, who mixed Alexi Casilla, Matt Tolbert, Brendan Harris, and perennial backup Nick Punto defensively at second base in 2009.
Last season, Hudson hit .283 with 35 doubles, 9 home runs and 62 RBIs for the Dodgers. He had 156 hits and scored 74 runs in 551 at-bats. He brings a track record of playing hard and hitting for average with lots of energy but little home run pop, with just 9 homers last year and a career-high of 15 in 2006. Thirty-five doubles can move players around the bases, but one probably wants more from such a key position.
In terms of fantasy, Hudson is not as exciting to your team as he is to the Minnesota Twins. Among second basemen last year, he ranked 15th in total fantasy points for and 12th in hits. He could be a late-round addition if you are stuck without a solid scorer, but if you follow the old fantasy recipe of being strong up-the-middle, he won't make your team. Second base has some great options in Chase Utley, Aaron Hill, Dustin Pedroia, Brian Roberts and Ian Kinsler, so make your claim on one of these elite point-scorers and you won't be disappointed.
Projected Minnesota Twins 2010 batting order:
Span CFHudson 2B
Mauer C
Morneau 1B
Cuddyer RF
Kubel/Thome DH
Young/Kubel LF
Hardy SS
Punto/Harris 3B