Dodgers sign Hudson to replace Kent

[February 23, 2009]  PHOENIX (AP) -- Three-time All-Star second baseman Orlando Hudson and the Dodgers reached agreement on a one-year contract Friday, giving Los Angeles a replacement for the retired Jeff Kent.

Hudson's deal is expected to pay him $3.4 million with another $4.6 million in possible bonuses.

The deal was contingent on Hudson passing a physical, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Dodgers have not confirmed the contract.

The Dodgers will give up their first-round pick in the June draft, No. 17 overall, because he was a Type-A free agent who turned down salary arbitration with Arizona.

Hudson, a three-time Gold Glove winner and .282 career hitter, had season-ending surgery on his left wrist each of the past two years with the Diamondbacks. He earned $6.2 million last year.

Hudson had an operation for a dislocated bone in the wrist last August, cutting short a season in which he was hitting a career-best .305. He had surgery for ligament damage in the same wrist late in the 2007 season.

His best year was in 2006, when he had 15 home runs with 67 RBIs and scored 87 times.

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti had said Wednesday that the team had some "wiggle room" in their payroll beyond what they were comfortable offering to Manny Ramirez in an attempt to bring him back to Los Angeles.

Kent played the last four years with the Dodgers. He was a five-time All-Star, an NL MVP and the majors' career leader in home runs by a second baseman.

The Dodgers opened camp with 23-year-old Blake DeWitt, who took over when Kent went down to injury in September, at second base. DeWitt can also play third while Hudson, could combine with shortstop Rafael Furcal to give the Dodgers one of the top defensive middle infields in the majors.

The Dodgers will get an additional draft pick between the first and second rounds. They earlier received a second-round choice from Atlanta as compensation for the Braves signing Derek Lowe.

[Associated Press; By KEN PETERS]

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