When Tim Hudson was felled by a gruesome ankle injury July 24 against the Mets, many observers figured the 15-year veteran had pitched his last game for the Braves.
Maybe not.
General manager Frank Wren plans to discuss with Hudson, 38, the possibility of re-signing the pending free agent, whose 205-111 career record includes 113-72 with a 3.56 ERA over nine seasons with the Braves.
“I think that Huddy is a guy that we would look to talk to and see where his head is and see what he’s thinking as far as coming back,” Wren said.
Hudson was 8-7 with a 3.97 ERA in 21 starts last season before his broken ankle and torn ligament, which required surgery. He’s expected to begin running again in November.
The Braves would like to add a bona fide No. 1 starter, but Wren doesn’t know if that’s doable given the limited number of elite starters expected on trade or free-agent markets. That will be among the hot topics discussed at this week’s organizational meetings, along with the pending free-agent status of catcher Brian McCann and what to do with second baseman Dan Uggla, coming off his career-worst season with two years (and $26 million) left on his contract.
After going 0-3 with an 8.69 ERA in a four-start period in May, Hudson was 4-3 with a 2.73 ERA in his last 10 starts before his fibula was broken when inadvertently stepped on by Eric Young while covering first base.
“I think we saw Huddy progress over the course of the season,” Wren said. “There were times early where he didn’t quite seem like he was in sync, and once he started going … he really looked like the Huddy of old. We were looking forward to having that the last two months of the season. I think if he’s back, there’s a significant role.”
Hudson made $9 million in 2013 in the option year of an extension signed prior to 2010. He had 16 or more wins each season during 2010-2012, including 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA in 2010 in his first full season after Tommy John elbow surgery. He went 16-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 2012 despite missing the first month recovering from spinal fusion surgery.
The Alabama native and former Auburn standout would like to finish his career with the Braves, but noted during the season that he didn’t know if that would be possible because they had so many up-and-coming pitchers.
Barring a trade, the Braves have returning starters Kris Medlen, Julio Teheran, Mike Minor and Brandon Beachy, who’s expected to fully recovered from September arthroscopic elbow surgery. Wren said they plan to have left-hander Alex Wood stretched out as a starter in the spring, after he impressed both as a starter and reliever as a rookie.
They also have other prospects including rookie David Hale, who was outstanding in two late-season starts.
“There’s lots of ups and downs with pitchers getting over the hump at the big-league level,” Wren said, “so having the depth and the wisdom of a veteran pitcher like Huddy helps in that process.”
Snitker moved to Triple-A manager: All but one of the Braves major league coaches will return for the 2014 season, with third base coach Brian Snitker as the lone exception. He was reassigned to manage Triple-A Gwinnett, while roving minor league instructor Doug Dascenzo was promoted to third-base coach.
Returning are bench coach Carlos Tosca, pitching coach Roger McDowell, hitting coach Greg Walker, assistant hitting coach Scott Fletcher, first-base coach Terry Pendleton and bullpen coach Eddie Perez, on one-year contracts. Manager Fredi Gonzalez returns for a fourth season in the option year on his contract.
Wren said the Snitker move allowed the Braves to fill a need in Triple-A after Randy Ready was recently let go, as well as get a coach with more outfield and baserunning expertise in the majors. Dascenzo, 49, spent 13 years in the Padres farm system, and the past two years overseeing outfield and baserunning instruction for Braves minor league teams.
“We had every other aspect and discipline covered, and we just didn’t have that covered as well as we would like,” Wren said. “And we have three dynamic outfielders that you really want to make sure that they’re at their best, and then the same thing with the baserunning.”
Snitker, 57, has 36 years in the Braves organization, starting as a player in 1977 and the past seven as third-base coach. He has 17 years of experience as a minor league manager for the Braves and returns to the Triple-A role for the first time since 2006, when he managed Richmond.
“Snit is a guy that’s been here for a long, long time and has done a tremendous job,” Wren said. “We know what he brings to that role and we’re excited to have him in Gwinnett.”
