The Arizona Diamondbacks have started talking to starting pitcher Daniel Hudson about a new contract, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. The right-hander is eligible for arbitration, and the team would prefer to skip that process.
MLB roundup: Arizona wants to avoid arbitration with SP Daniel Hudson
The right-hander, who is still under team control, has undergone two Tommy John surgeries in the last two years.
Doug Pensinger
Hudson, who made $518,500 last season, hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 26, 2012. His season ended with Tommy John surgery that year, and he had to undergo the procedure a second time in 2013 after suffering a setback during a rehab start in June. He’s taking things slower in his recovery this time around, reports Gilbert, but is scheduled to start throwing soon. If the two sides don’t agree to a contract by Monday, then the team will have to decide whether or not to offer Hudson arbitration; if they do offer it to him, then they can still work out a contract before going in front of an arbiter, but if they fail to offer it to him then he becomes a free agent.
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Hudson, who will be 27 years old next season, has made 53 starts for the Diamondbacks since being acquired in 2010 for pitcher Edwin Jackson. He has gone 26-15 for Arizona with a 3.58 ERA and a 3.54 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Giants add three players
The San Francisco Giants added two new pitchers on Wednesday: left-handed starting pitcher Jose De Paula and right-handed reliever Erik Cordier. In order to make room for both players on the 40-man roster, catcher Johnny Monell and outfielder Francisco Peguero were designated for assignment. The team also signed infielder Brandon Hicks to a minor league deal, according to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, but he was not added to the 40-man roster.
In a peculiar move, Cordier was signed to a major league contract despite the facts that he's never appeared in the majors and has posted underwhelming numbers in the minors for the last three seasons, reports Cotillo. Last year, the 27-year-old posted a 4.58 ERA for the Pittsburgh Pirates' Triple-A affiliate. De Paula, 23, was claimed off of waivers from the San Diego Padres; he put up a 3.86 ERA in 14 starts for their Double-A affiliate last season after missing all of 2012 due to Visa issues. Hicks last played in the majors for the Oakland Athletics in 2012; the power-hitting middle infielder spent the 2013 season in the New York Mets' minor league system.
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Monell is a 27-year-old offense-first catcher who went 1-for-8 for the Giants as a September call-up in 2013. Pegeuro, 25, was rated as the #98 prospect in baseball by MLB.com prior to 2012, but has not yet stuck in the majors. In 46 plate appearances with the Giants over the last two seasons, he has batted .200/.217/.289 with one home run.
In an unrelated move, left-handed reliever Jose Mijares elected to become a free agent, according to Cotillo. Mijares had been released on Tuesday to make room for fellow left-hander Javier Lopez, who was re-signed by the team.
Royals sign Cory Wade
The Kansas City Royals signed right-handed reliever Cory Wade to a minor league contract on Wednesday, according to Cotillo. Wade last pitched in the majors for the New York Yankees in 2012; he spent 2013 bouncing around the minor league, serving stints with the Triple-A affiliates of the Cubs, Rays, and Mets. The 30-year-old owns a career 3.65 ERA in 161 major league appearances for the Yankees and Dodgers.
Dodgers sign Josh Judy
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed right-handed reliever Josh Judy to a minor league contract, reports Cotillo. Judy spent the 2013 season in the Angels' minor league system, and also made a few appearances in the independent Atlantic League. His only major league experience came in 2011 for the Cleveland Indians, for whom he posted a 7.07 ERA in 12 games.
Rangers receive Rafael Ortega from Rockies
The Texas Rangers received center fielder Rafael Ortega off of waivers from the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, according to Rangers executive John Blake. The 22-year-old speedster has stolen 156 bases in 462 minor league games to go along with a 774 OPS. However, he struggled to hit in Double-A last season; in 42 games, he batted .228/.315/.297 before his season ended early due to a fractured left shin. His only major league experience came in 2012, when he reached base four times in six plate appearances and stole a base for the Rockies.
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