Pitcher Tim Hudson is the only member of the Braves with a 2010 option. It's a $12MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout. Back in January, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said the Braves "fully intend to exercise it, barring some unexpected turn of events." Hudson hopes to return in August from Tommy John surgery, and even seems willing to come back as a reliever to help more quickly. In February, talking to MLB.com's Mark Bowman, Hudson expressed his desire for the Braves to pick up the option:
"If I'm healthy, I hope they like what they see enough to pick up the option. If not, I'm still young. If everything goes right with this elbow, I see myself pitching another seven or eight years. I've got a new elbow. I'm ready to go. There's no other place I'd rather be, that's for sure."
It's safe to assume that if the Braves exercise Hudson's option, he won't choose to void it in search of a bigger contract. The Braves' 2010 rotation would be deep, with Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, Javier Vazquez, Kenshin Kawakami, Hudson, and Tommy Hanson. Kawkami is off to a shaky start, but his $23MM contract runs through 2011.
