Twins, 2B Orlando Hudson agree to 1-year contract

The Minnesota Twins and second baseman Orlando Hudson have agreed on a one-year, $5 million contract.

The Twins announced the deal late Thursday night.

As part of the deal, the Twins agreed not to offer Hudson salary arbitration if he is a Type A free agent next offseason. Thus, a team will be able to sign Hudson without losing a draft pick, making him more attractive on the open market.

The contract does not include incentives.

Hudson gives the Twins a veteran at the top of the batting order with a .282 career average and four Gold Glove awards. He played in his second All-Star Game last season, his only year with the Los Angeles Dodgers after four with the Toronto Blue Jays and three with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He'll form an all-new double-play tandem for the Twins with shortstop J.J. Hardy, who came in an earlier offseason trade from the Milwaukee Brewers. The 32-year-old Hudson batted .283 with 35 doubles, six triples, nine homers and 62 RBIs in 551 at-bats for the Dodgers last year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.