Orlando Hudson Headed to Kansas City? Only If They Can Afford Him

The Kansas City Royals are trying hard to clear cap space to sign free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson. The team’s payroll is the biggest obstacle to get over if they want to sign the best 2B in this year’s free agent class.

The Kansas City Star reported that KC’s interest is pretty high, but they don’t think they will be able to land him because of their financial issues.

“Nothing’s changed from what I said earlier,” general manager Dayton Moore told the Star. “For us to add any payroll, we’d have to take it away from somewhere else. We’re at our limit.”

Right now, the second base position is being fought for by Willie Bloomquist, Alberto Callaspo, Esteban German, and possibly Mark Teahan. Here is Moore on their current situation:

“We like our infield options,” he said to the Star. “We feel we’ve already improved ourselves there. But you also always look at ways to make your team better.”

Orlando Hudson is one of the bigger prizes in the free agent pool this offseason, yet he has only drawn interest from the Dodgers, Mets, and Nationals.

However, none of these teams had or have Hudson as their top priority. Now that the Mets signed both John Maine and Oliver Perez, they are probably out of the hunt. The Nationals just got their big bat in one of Hudson’s former teammates Adam Dunn, so they are probably out of the running. 

The Dodgers still have some cap to spend, but their main focus is obviously Manny Ramirez. If the team gets him, they may be done with Hudson as well. That makes the Royals the top dog.

This lack of suitors is definitely a product of the suffering economy.