DODGERS UPDATE: A'S HUDSON A HOT COMMODITY STARTING PITCHER COULD BE DODGERS' TARGET.Byline: Tony Jackson
Anthony (Antonio) Jackson, best known as Tony Jackson Staff Writer ANAHEIM - The Dodgers' quest to upgrade their starting rotation appears to be leading them, at least for the moment, in the general direction of Oakland's Tim Hudson Timothy Adam Hudson (born July 14, 1975 in Salem, Alabama[1] ) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Atlanta Braves. Hudson began his major league career with the Oakland Athletics (1999-2004) and played his last two years of college . The A's are looking to get something of value in return for the veteran right-hander before potentially losing him to free agency a year from now. Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta Paul DePodesta (born December 16, 1972) is baseball front-office assistant for the San Diego Padres. He has also served as general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers from February 16, 2004 to October 29, 2005. , citing Major League Baseball's tampering policy, declined to specifically address Hudson. DePodesta did say he had met extensively during these winter meetings with his former boss, Oakland GM Billy Beane
William Lamar "Billy" Beane (born March 29, 1962 in Orlando, Florida) is a former Major League Baseball player and the current general manager of the Oakland Athletics. . ``I don't think they were mentoring sessions,'' one baseball official said. Hudson, 29, is one of the game's top pitchers, having gone a staggering 92-39 in six major-league seasons with a 3.30 career ERA. He is entering the final season of a five-year, $14.7 million contract that will pay him $6 million in 2005, after which he will be eligible for free agency and clearly out of the small-market A's price range. There are believed to be about a half-dozen teams in the hunt for Hudson. Although most of the early rumors involved Dodgers second baseman second baseman n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker Alex Cora José Alexander (Alex) Cora (born October 18, 1975 in Caguas, Puerto Rico) is a utility infielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. University of Miami career , who suddenly became expendable Thursday when the club signed slugging free-agent Jeff Kent Jeffrey Franklin Kent (born March 7, 1968 in Bellflower, California) is a Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and a former MVP winner. Early career , the A's reportedly have no interest in Cora, a light-hitting defensive wizard who with shortstop Cesar Izturis forms arguably the best middle infield in the majors. The latest chatter centers on Dodgers right-hander Edwin Jackson Edwin Jackson (born September 9, 1983 in Neu-Ulm, Bavaria, West Germany) is a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and currently plays for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. , long considered the organization's top pitching prospect, and versatile infield reserve Antonio Perez. When he wasn't doing two stints on the disabled list, Jackson spent most of last season at Triple-A Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. . He made seven appearances for the Dodgers but wasn't nearly as impressive as he had been in his major-league debut the previous September. If the Dodgers were adamantly opposed to trading Jackson at one time, they don't appear to be now. ``In Edwin's case, we're certainly not looking to move him,'' DePodesta said. ``It's easy to forget this guy just turned 21 in September. He should be a junior in college right now, but instead, he's got (four) major-league wins under his belt. If he were a junior in college, he'd probably be the first pick in the draft. I'm still very high on Edwin and think he's one of the best pitching prospects in the game.'' --More trouble: Dodgers outfielder Milton Bradley apparently will have to serve a three-day jail sentence stemming from an August 2003 incident in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Cuyahoga Falls is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2003 census, the city population was 50,375. It is currently the second largest city in Summit County. It is considered a suburb of both Akron and Cleveland, but is actually older than Akron. , in which he drove away from a traffic stop while officers tried to issue him a citation. Bradley pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year but had appealed the sentence to the Ohio Supreme Court, which last week rejected that appeal. Bradley also faces a Feb. 22 trial in Barberton, Ohio, Municipal Court on a disorderly conduct disorderly conduct Conduct likely to lead to a disturbance of the public peace or that offends public decency. It has been held to include the use of obscene language in public, fighting in a public place, blocking public ways, and making threats. charge after a Nov. 25 incident in which he allegedly interfered with a police traffic stop of a friend who had been following Bradley on a freeway. Bradley, who asked for a jury trial rather than paying a nominal fine, could face up to 30 days in jail on that charge. It is merely the latest chapter in the Bradley saga, which for the Dodgers began when they acquired him April 4 from Cleveland. At the time, Indians management had become fed up with the volatile Bradley after his spring-training screaming match with manager Eric Wedge. During the 2004 season, Bradley was ejected from four games and twice suspended by the league office - including for the final five games of the regular season after he threw a plastic bottle into the stands during a confrontation with fans at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have yet to take any in-house disciplinary action against Bradley, who is undergoing anger-management counseling, and it doesn't appear they will anytime soon. Moreover, DePodesta all but ruled out any possibility the club will cut Bradley loose by not tendering him a contract offer before the Dec. 19 deadline. Tony Jackson,(818) 713-3675 tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com |
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