According to Dan O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves and Tim Hudson have ripped up the 2010 mutual option they had on the table and agreed to a 3 year, $28 million deal, with a club option for a fourth year.
This move gives the Braves quite a bit of starting pitching to work with and all the rumors say they will try to move a starter for a power bat, which would certainly make sense.
However, I’m not so sure signing Hudson to this deal makes all that much sense. He will make $9 million per year for 3 years and the club option is also for $9 million or a $1 million buyout. That seems like quite a chunk of change for a guy who is soon turning 34 and coming off Tommy John surgery.
By most accounts, the Braves have handled Hudson’s rehab properly. They haven’t rushed him back and in the 7 games he started at the end of last year, he posted a 114 ERA+ and a 6.4 K/9, which is better then average, to be sure, but that probably isn’t worth $9 million per.
In my eyes, the Braves are going to need the 2007-8 Hudson in order to make their money on this deal. That seems a little unlikely. Maybe for a year or two but it’s hard for me to see a 37 year old Hudson with a 133 ERA+ and a 9.0 K/9. Possible, but unlikely.
Regardless, the Hudson extension probably means that either Derek Lowe or Javier Vazquez will be traded for the aforementioned power bat. Lowe seems hard to move given he is still owed $45 million over the next 3 years and really isn’t pitching like a $15 million a year pitcher any more. Vazquez is much easier to move, especially considering how he pitched last year, and would likely draw a nice hitter in return, but I would think the Braves would really love to hold on to him.
My bet is that Lowe gets moved for a solid bat and the Braves eat a good piece of his contract.
Regardless, the Braves are shaping up to have a very good rotation next year and, if they can get that bat they need, will have a shot at contending next year.
