Braves Start Extension Talks With Hudson

The Braves have begun negotiating an extension with Tim Hudson and his agent, Paul Cohen, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Under Hudson's current deal, the Braves can buy the righty out for $1MM or agree to pick up a $12MM option that the pitcher can void. But Hudson would prefer an extension.

"Truthfully, I've never even thought that the option was an option," Hudson said.

Bowman says "it is believed" the Braves would be comfortable offering Hudson a three-year deal worth $27-29MM. Hudson had excellent seasons back-to-back in 2007 and 2008 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, a procedure which limited him to just seven starts last year.

Yesterday David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution guessed that the Braves would try to work out an extension with Hudson. If the sides do work out a deal, ESPN.com's Buster Olney expects the Braves to consider dealing Kenshin Kawakami or Derek Lowe.

If the Braves extend Hudson, they'll have made long-term commitments to three starters 34 and older (Kawakami and Lowe are the others).