Free agents 2014: Tim Hudson agrees to deal with Giants

The San Francisco Giants won the World Series in 2010, missed the playoffs in 2011, won the World Series in 2012 and missed the playoffs in 2013. Their quest to continue the trend and win another World Series in 2014 took a major step forward on Monday with the addition of free-agent right-hander Tim Hudson on a two-year, $23 million contract.Hudson is coming off a devastating ankle injury, with a broken bone and ligament damage suffered when he collided with Eric Young Jr. of the Mets on a play at first base in July. His recovery has been going smoothly — and obviously there are few concerns about his ability to return to full health if he is getting a contract this early in the offseason. 

Nobody’s health is really a sure thing at the age of 38, but it also is important to keep in mind that Hudson is dealing with a leg injurynike shox shoes rather than an arm injury, and while the right foot is his plant foot, it’s still a lot less worrisome than if he were trying to come back from a busted elbow or shoulder.If Hudson remains himself — a pitcher who held opposing batters to a .299 on-base percentage in 21 starts last season — the Giants have the makings of a downright nasty rotation, with Hudson slotting in behind Madison Bumgarner, who was fifth in the National League in ERA and seventh in strikeouts, and Matt Cain, whose 1.156 WHIP in 2013 was better than Hudson’s 1.Wholesale Lingerie Sexy Lingerie188 but who mysteriously staggered to a 4.00 ERA, his worst since 2006.In fact, Hudson might even be considered the Giants’ No. 2 starter. While Bumgarner was sixth in the majors in fewest bases allowed per inning this year, Hudson was 21st among pitchers who worked at least 100 innings, right behind Zack Greinke and Justin Masterson, and ahead of Andrew Cashner and Yu Darvish. 

With Tim Lincecum remaining in San Francisco,Isuzu Auto Parts the addition of Hudson marks a significant improvement over Ryan Vogelsong or Barry Zito, with another pitcher still needed to fill out the Giants’ rotation.For the sake of poetry, say it’s Zito and that seven years after signing a contract with a former A’s ace that they were all but doomed from the start to wind up regretting, the Giants did well this time around with a former hero from the other side of the Bay.One thing that will not particularly factor into Hudson’s deal is the fact that San Francisco is the hardest place in baseball to hit a home run off a right-handed pitcher,Sexy Lingerie Factory with only 75 hit there in 2013. Hudson has surrendered only 220 home runs in 2813 2/3 career innings. Of the 187 pitchers who have thrown at least 2,000 innings since 1961, Hudson’s rate of 0.70 homers allowed per nine innings ranks 42nd.canada goose jacket women Bronson Arroyo, another rumored Giants target, is 185th on that list, with only Steve Trachsel and Woody Williams having been tagged for home runs more frequently.