Nats Will Not Pursue Orlando Hudson

According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals have dropped out of the running for free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson.

General manager Jim Bowden declined to give a reason why Hudson will not be a member of the team, writes Ladson.

The Nationals must feel comfortable with what they have in Ronnie Belliard, Anderson Hernandez, Alberto Gonzalez and Willie Harris.  Belliard and Hernandez would seem to be the front-runners for the starting second base job.  Belli hit .287/.372/.473 with 11 homers and 46 RBI in 96 games last season, and Hernandez batted .333 with 17 RBI in 28 games after coming over from the Mets in late August.