Padres finalize $11.5M, 2-year deal with Hudson
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The San Diego Padres finalized their $11.5 million, two-year contract with second baseman Orlando Hudson on Monday.
The 33-year-old Hudson needed to pass a physical exam.
He spent the 2010 season with the Minnesota Twins and hit .268 with six home runs and 37 RBIs. He replaces David Eckstein, who became a free agent.
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"We're thrilled to get him here to San Diego," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "Our focus at the beginning of the offseason was really to strengthen ourselves up the middle. I think with the addition of Cameron Maybin, Jason Bartlett and now, Orlando, we feel a ton better about our team up the middle. Orlando is a proven winner, a four-time Gold Glove winner and I think he's going to bring a ton of offense to our team, a ton of defense and a ton of energy."
Maybin, the center fielder, was obtained from Florida earlier in the offseason and Bartlett was obtained from Tampa Bay last week.
"It's a great young team," Hudson said. "I saw what they did last year and I'm glad to be a part of it now."
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The Padres were in contention until the last day of the season.
Hudson said the security of the deal "definitely means a lot and so does coming to San Diego, this ballpark, this great place."
He said he's looking forward to playing with Bartlett.
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"Bartlett wasn't an All-Star for no reason," Hudson said. "We'll get a few days early in the spring, go out there and have fun, take a couple of fungos and before you know me and Bartlett will be right on time."