MLB: Orlando Hudson Headed to Minnesota

After being put on the back burner by the Los Angeles Dodgers and waiting to see if they'll re-sign him, second baseman Orlando Hudson is moving on.

The Minnesota Twins are continuing to make good free agent signings this year and added another good free agent in Orlando Hudson. Orlando Hudson played second base for the Dodgers last year and will play that spot with the Minnesota Twins. The two parties agreed on a one year deal worth about $5 million. The deal was announced on Thursday night and will bring a good bat and a veteran’s presence to the top of their batting order. Hudson is a career .282 hitter and has received four Golden Glove Awards. He played in his second All Star game last season with the Dodgers, but his role seemed to diminish in the playoffs after the team signed Ronnie Belliard. Hudson will form a new double play tandem for the Twins with shortstop J.J. Hardy who came in an earlier trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. He will also be another key veteran in the locker room with slugger Jim Thome. Hudson had a .283 batting order with 9 homeruns and 62 RBIs in 551 plate appearances last year in Los Angeles.