Padres Rumors: San Diego May Release Orlando Hudson

The San Diego Padres haven’t gotten off to the start they were hoping for, and Bill Center of U-T San Diego is reporting that changes could be coming.  According to Center, the Padres “might be willing to release Orlando Hudson if the veteran second baseman doesn’t improve his play over the next two weeks”.

San Diego was shopping Hudson and fellow veteran infielder Jason Bartlett this offseason.  Unable to find a trade partner for either player, the Padres entered the season with Hudson as their everyday second baseman.

However, utility infielder Andy Parrino has made several starts at second in place of Hudson, who’s struggled mightily to start the season.  Not only is Hudson 4-35 at the plate, good for an OPS of .310, but he’s also struggled in the field.

Center said that Hudson “probably needs to be hitting around .250 and showing improvement in his overall game” in order to salvage his job.  If the Padres were to part ways with Hudson, they would have to eat his remaining tab of $7.25 million.  This includes Hudson’s 2012 salary of $5.25 million and his $2 million buyout for 2013.

Parrino could slide into the everyday second baseman role if he proves capable, and Center named a pair of players that could ultimately take Hudson’s place on the Padres roster; infielders Logan Forsythe and Everth Cabrera.  Both sustained spring training injuries and are either playing in Triple-A (Cabrera) or recovering from injury (Forsythe).

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