Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest � Blog Archive � Mets Should Sign Hudson to Play 2B

So the Mets – and their fans – have had enough of Luis Castillo playing second base.

One alternative that has been mentioned is a platoon involving Danny Murphy and Ruben Tejada at second base. a report out of the Arizona Fall League gives Murphy the inside track.

I like both Murphy, who has given baseball all he has – and is battling back from injury – and Tejada, who is a dazzling young fielder. Neither, however, gives the Mets lineup the boost and panache it really needs.

This where Orlando Hudson comes in.  the O-Dawg is a bit of a character, but the kind that can inject excitement into a club. He's also a solid fielder, having made just 82 errors in nine seasons while being part of 745 double plays for a .986 fielding percentage.

Hudson, who turns 33 next month, is a pro, the type the Mets need. He's changed teams the past few years, from the Diamondbacks to the Dodgers to the Twins because, like many free-agents of recent vintage, became a bit pricey for a lot of clubs.

He's not the slugger Dan Uggla is, but he is a much better fielder.  his career OPS is a not-shabby .770.

I have no idea if Hudson's intangibles fit in with the Mets' new regime. In the scheme of things, the new front office may not want to take on a two-year, $11 million pact for a Hudson.  Perhaps the choice would be for the platoon mentioned above or to go with Castillo, who has little trade value, in 2011.

Hudson, however, would not only provide competent fielding, he is a solid gap hitter with a .280 career average. He'll hit a home run here and there.  What I like most is what he would do to shake things up a bit.

If anything, the Mets could use a player who is a bit cocky, who, in a professional way, could get under the skin of opponents. the Phillies have players like that. the Braves have players like that. the Mets have not since Carlos Delgado.

A bit of what Hudson brings to ballpark results in a few wins during a season. now that Minnesota has basically decided not to re-sign him – although the Twins' fiscal situation has changed drastically over the past few years – the Mets should go get him.

Castillo was a good player at one time. What happened with the Mets just happened. He was not a good fit with the club.  Uggla would cost the Mets prospects they really don't need to give up, and, playing the devil's advocate, how would his power game play in Citi Field?

As far as Murphy and Tejada are concerned, the offense may come, but it is no sure thing.

I've seen enough of Hudson – whose offensive game, I feel, is quite conducive to Citi Field – and feel he quickly would become a fan favorite.

The guys making the decision are paying paid plenty to make the right call. To me, Hudson is that right call.

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<a href="http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=30967tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=30967Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:11:55 GMT 00:00″>Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Blog Archive » Mets Should Sign Hudson to Play 2B

fielding percentage, free agents, mets