Earlier this week we heard that the Padres hope to trade either Jason Bartlett or Orlando Hudson this offseason, and today Dan Hayes of The North County Times heard from a source that the team believes it will be easier to trade Bartlett because of his contract (Twitter links). The Padres think they'd have to eat part of Hudson's deal to get actual prospects back.
The double play combo are the only players San Diego has under contract next season. Bartlett, 32, will earn $5.5MM in 2012 after hitting .245/.308/.307 in 2011. Like many of his teammates, he hit better away from Petco Park: .265/.323/.330 with 16 doubles. Bartlett's $5.5MM option for 2013 will vest with 423 plate appearances next season, otherwise he will be owed a $1.5MM buyout.
Hudson, 34 next month, hit the disabled list twice due to hamstring strains this past season. He hit .246/.329/.352 with seven homers and 19 steals when healthy, and is owed $7MM in 2012. As our Free Agent Tracker shows, middle infielders like Jamey Carroll, Mark Ellis, and Aaron Hill have signed multi-year contracts this winter, all worth between $3.25MM and $5.5MM per season. Clint Barmes is poised to join them as well.
FreshMintt
Get on this Mozeliak
cards2WS
No. He should run away as fast as he can… I want a Raffy and Dezzy infield. Focus on Furcal!!!
The_BiRDS
Bartlett has actually played a full season.
straightuphonestguy
I’m curious as to why the Padres are so keen on dealing Bartlett. I’ve read conflicting reports on Cabrera, and I think I remember both saying he was still far from 2009-form.
GasLampGuru
The new Padres front office likes Cabrera more than Hoyer & Co did, so they’d like to trim some salary and give him a shot to prove he can play. Also, both Hudson and Bartlett were signed to provide some offensive consistency and leadership, but didn’t deliver. I’ve heard reports that both guys were negative influences in the locker room.
johnnycomelately9
If he gets a little more than 400 abs in 2012 his 2013 5 million option goes into affect.
Brian M
I really like Orlando Hudson but unless he’s healthy for a full season and goes back to hitting .280 or higher he’s just not worth 7 million bucks! At that kind of $$ the risk is much greater than the potential reward. Padres might be unsuccessful trading him unless they eat some salary.
GasLampGuru
Hudson is a bum. He did not provide the type of leadership the team expected from him last season. He was a divisive force in the locker room and was always the first to leave after games. That’s why the Padres want to move him.
jwsox
were you in the locker room? do you know these for a fact
Ohhhplease
Do you only believe things from people who “were there” ?
And yes, he is quoting what has been made very obvious in several radio and print media sources in San Diego.
0vercast
The Twins writers/insiders said the same thing.
Ohhhplease
I am not a fan of Hudson, and think that he seemed to be a negative influence on the team. In post season interviews Hoyer said (paraphrasing) that he hoped Hudson would come back from the off-season in better shape and with a better attitude (1090AM with Darren Smith for those looking for the wheres and who’s).
I did not see him as a player who came to play everyday, or even every play. He looked lost at times, and downright didn’t care others. I would much rather see a season of one of the Pads younger players playing his brains and maybe not being wildly successful that another season of a 7 million dollar has been who obviously didn’t care.
Ray Darr
Could be a good fit for the #Brewers. Barmes is signing with the Bucs, and I don’t think they can afford Reyes or Rollins.
lefty177
idk, Nyjer Morgan & Orlando Hudson (or were you saying Bartlett), that’d be a scary team with Morgan & Hudson, why don’t they just trade for Brandon Phillips too just to make it even better?
aisored
Why would the Brewers trade for Hudson?
DT Flush234
Cardinals need to trade theriot for hudson.
jwsox
theroit is cheaper and a better offensive player and decent at 2nd if a manager would just move him there for good…no clue why the cubs tried for so long to play him at SS
Amish_willy
Theriot is not a better offensive player then Hudson. Compare their OPS+’s, Theriot the past three years most recent first are: 86, 71, 83. Hudson’s are 94, 96, 108. Hudson hit .260/.359/.379 away from Petco this year.
cards2WS
Pads would never do it. Plus Hudson cost to much for us. 7 mil for a defensive 2nd basemen? Too much.
James Scheuerman
We’d probably kick in 2 million to get it done.
longtimepadrefan
Trade ODog.
briankoke
He’s making 5.5 million next year, not 7.
AirmanSD
7.5 million is the value left on his contract since he has 5.5 million salary with a 2 million buyout. (Hudson). Bartlett has 5.5 million salary and 1.5 million buyout. So either way they have at least that salary for any team that picks them up.
bobbybaseball
“The double play combo are the only players San Diego has under contract next season.”
This is a bit misleading. Maybin and others are under team control.
Colin Christopher
“Maybin and others are under team control.”
Meaning…they are not yet under contract. So, nobody was misled. Now, if you had claimed that it was “inaccurate” due to the fact that the Pads also have Mark Kotsay under contract for 2012, then you would have been onto something.
But claiming that a forum full of readers who are VERY familiar with baseball contracts and transactions have been somehow misled by a claim that two guys are the only ones a team has under contract is, well, inaccurate.
padresfuture
Re: eating money on Hudsons contract to get actual prospects back……. yeah, so?!
bigpat
You’re making more than the minimum? Madness, get out of here now!!!
I understand that I support a team that has a very low budget but it wasn’t long ago the Padres were actually good, they don’t even seem willing to try anymore.
tomymogo
I can handle a weak bat if he is very solid defensively from the Braves perspective. Normally 5.5 million is a lot for a guy like him but, Barmes got a 2 year 10.5 million. Prices are elevated
The_BiRDS
Its obvious the Marlins will look to trade for him. They have Hanley, soon to have Reyes, and they will need at least one more to finish their SS collection for 2012.
bayareabeast
i thought bartlett would be a good pickup for the giants before they traded for cabrera last year..i wouldnt mind them going after him
tannedt
Both these acquisitions were a bit puzzling, and neither worked out. Trade ’em both.