Reports: Hudson agrees to contract with Giants
The San Francisco Giants have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with right-handed pitcher Tim Hudson, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
According to previous reports, the two sides had been close to agreement on a two-year, $23 million contract.
ESPN.com reported that the deal for Hudson is close to being completed, but has not yet been finalized.
Hudson, 38, was 8-7 with a 3.97 for the Atlanta Braves this past season. He is expected to make the Giants' strong pitching staff even stronger if he is completely recovered from a severe ankle injury that required surgery and forced him to miss the final two months of the 2013 season.
The San Jose Mercury News reported that Hudson is nearing the end of the rehab process and could begin throwing later this month.
Hudson suffered a broken ankle and ligament damage when Eric Young stepped on his foot on a play at first base.
Hudson had been pitching well before the injury. From June 1 through July 24, Hudson had a 2.73 ERA.
Playing for the Giants would represent Hudson's second stint in the Bay Area. Hudson began his major-league career with the Oakland A's in 1999 and formed a formidable starting rotation with Mark Mulder and Barry Zito .
Hudson was traded to the Braves in 2004 and pitched well for nine seasons in Atlanta.
He has won at least 15 games in a season eight times, with his best season being 2000, when he went 20-6 and finished second in the Cy Young Award voting.
Hudson probably would join Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum in the Giants rotation.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, two issues helped the Giants acquire Hudson. First, Hudson, an Alabama native and Georgia resident, made it known he would be willing to move back across the country for the right team. Also, the Braves apparently offered him a contract with a significantly smaller salary than he earned last year.
