The Padres could be close to making a major decision on second baseman Orlando Hudson: If he doesn't improve his play over the next two weeks, they might decide to release the 34-year-old veteran.
Hudson is off to a 4-for-35 start and missed time during spring training with a groin injury. Perhaps because of that injury, his play at second also has fallen below expectations.
Utility infielder Andy Parrino made a third straight start Tuesday night and a second straight start at second, triggering speculation that the Padres might be close to making a move.
Releasing Hudson would be an expensive proposition for the Padres. He is making $5.25 million this season with a $2 million buyout against an $8 million contract for 2013. The $7.25 million is guaranteed.
But he was limited to 119 games last year because of two trips to the disabled list with a right hamstring strain (May 4-19) and left groin strain (May 27-June 19) and hit a career-low .246 with a .329 on-base percentage and had 27 extra-base hits (including seven homers) and 43 RBI. He did steal a career-high 19 bases.
Hudson's future could be determined by the health of infielders Logan Forsythe and Everth Cabrera as well as the play of Parrino.
Forsythe, 25, hit .213 in 62 games for the Padres last season and went into spring training vying for a roster spot with the Padres. But he had surgery on March 8 to remove the fractured sesamoid bone from his left foot. However, Forsythe is starting to swing and throw and could be two weeks away from joining Triple-A Tucson.
Cabrera, 25, who lost the utility infield job to Parrino at the end of spring training, got off to a slow start with Tucson because of a sore back. But his average is up to .267, and he has three steals in seven games.
