The Dodgers have agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran right Daniel Hudson, skipper Dave Roberts tells reporters including Pedro Moura of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Since the Rays and Pirates are already paying Hudson’s $5.5MM salary for the coming season, he’d only cost the Dodgers a pro-rated portion of the league-minimum salary in the majors. He’ll also earn $25K monthly in the minors, per Chris Cotillo of SB Nation (via Twitter), so there’s no financial pressure. But with multiple April opt-out opportunities, Hudson can push to receive a return to the majors.
All in all, this will basically represent a free roll for a Los Angeles club that always seems to find interesting relief arms in unexpected places. Hudson had a brutal spring (during which he was traded from the Pirates to the Rays) after managing only a 4.38 ERA in 2017.
That said, there’s some reason to believe Hudson could still harness the talent that has long been evident. The two-time Tommy John recipient was healthy, showed plenty of arm speed, and also generated a solid 12.1% swinging-strike rate last season. Though he has not managed to produce consistent results, Hudson remains an interesting pitcher.
The season is 4 games old and the Dodgers are making moves like it’s the end of July.
With that payroll this should be a total embarrassment !
Ha a Dodgers payroll joke. Hahahahahahahahaha
HeHeHeHoHoHo
I’ll assume all of the above are Dodger haters. This is an insignificant financial signing that has zero effect on the 40 man roster. The way this season is going who knows what kind of injuries your players will experience. Minor league depth is important and it’s not one you pay a ton of money for. This deal is neither stupid or shrewd. Ours simply something teams due. Zzzzzzzero downside.
Huh? How so?
It’s a milb deal. OKC starts on Thursday. They are simply filling out their roster. It’s a minor league deal no big deal. No much more than that. He has the skill set the Dodgers like, not much more than that. Other moves being made due to retroactive do rules and having to fill a 40 man with guys on the 69 day.
*DL
So because they have a lot of money they should spend their money more stupidly on expensive players? Is that your argument?
They are paying him the minimum. The Rays and Pirates are on the hook for his ML salary.
You mean a payroll that is $47 million lower than that of the Red Sox?
Two moves dealing with marginal minor leaguers? A pretty uneventful end of July if that’s the case
No brainer signing, in my opinion. He gives them high-quality depth in the minors and can potentially come up to the bigs to fill in if needed.
High quality depth?
I believe he is claiming his output would be high quality in the minors and despite his rough season/spring it is hard to argue he can’t at least be a reasonable bounce back
Dodgers have done well in the past with reclamation projects, low risk gamble with potential for high reward
Uhh the Pirates are know for reclamation projects and this guy couldn’t come close. Good luck.
Are they though? They got lucky on a couple of guys and have wiffed on just as many since.
Then can’t you say that about any team?
It depends on the reclamation project if we’re being honest not all reclamation projects are the same. Not all teams value the same skill set. The Dodgers do well with high velo guys that have the ability to work north and south. They also tend to free up and simplify a mix. So good luck not being close means nothing. Chances are Hudson doesn’t do much, but being a Pitt reclamation project means nothing.
Pittsburgh tried to change his delivery and obviously didn’t work
How many Dodger fans thought the same when they signed Brandon Morrow to a minor league deal last season? Hudson may not be a starter any longer. But teams are finding that former starters can become fairly dominant in the relief role due to less innings needed. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Remember, its a minor league deal with no real committment.
I for one never expected what we received from Morrow
Add enough pawns and rook might appear
Who knows
Don’t forget they did it withJoe Blanton too.
Morrow was a somewhat of a reclamation case, but Blanton had already shown effectiveness as a reliever at KC and Pittsburgh. The big break they got with Blanton was he was able to slip into a setup role even though he’d been signed as middle reliever. They were forced into rolling those dice because they had no other reasonable options.
Good move. Dodgers are making sure they have depth. On a different roster Hudson is on a 25 man roster but no one is willing to spend since many clubs are on a rebuild and the ones who are not pretty much have depth already.
The Royals, desperate for pitching at this point, sign Kyle Lohse, who didn’t even play last year, and the Dodgers sign someone who at least has some upside. Yes, they’re minor league deals, but if I were a player, on the bubble, which team would have a better opportunity to give me a call-up?