Healthy Tim Hudson Presents Dilemma For Braves' 2010 Rotation

As Tim Hudson continues to build up toward his pre-injury strength, the Braves can look to the offseason with a dilemma: Which of their six starting pitchers should be playing elsewhere in 2010. Hudson has a $12 million option, and in order for the Braves to afford to pay that, they'd likely have to trade one of the other starters. Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens aren't going anywhere, and it's doubtful the Braves could convince someone to take on Derek Lowe's massive contract.

Thus, the likely candidates -- should the Braves decide they need to shed salary and keep Hudson -- would be Kenshin Kawakami and Javier Vazquez.

Hudson is a solid pitcher who is known as a great clubhouse guy. He worked incredibly hard to get his arm back into shape and he's now made three starts since coming back from Tommy John surgery. He's 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA. He's struck out 12 and walked 5 in 17 1/3 innings. If the Braves decided to let Hudson walk, they'd have to pay a $1 million buyout and receive nothing in return.

Kawakami is set to make just over $13 million over the next two seasons. As a starter, he went 7-10 with a 3.97 ERA this season in his American debut. He actually overcame a rough start to put together a 3.34 ERA in his last 18 starts before being moved to the bullpen to make room for Hudson. There would likely be a handful of teams ready to cough up some prospects to put Kawakami at the end of their rotation.

Vazquez would be in Cy Young contention if he had gotten better run support this season. He's got a 3.01 ERA in 197 1/3 innings with two complete games, 216 strikeouts, 40 walks and a 1.05 WHIP. Of course, he's only 13-9 due to some pretty bad fortune. He's set to make $11.5 million next season. You don't want to dump a player who has pitched this well, but he'd land a much bigger return than Kawakami.

For the record, Hudson would consider a discount to stay in Atlanta.

"I would be glad if they picked up the option," Hudson said. "But it's one of those things if they want to discuss not picking it up and maybe going a few years out at some kind of whatever hometown discount, that's something I'd obviously be willing to discuss with them."

Still, if he stayed, there would be a logjam in the rotation unless someone was traded. Carrying six starting pitchers is a waste of resources, especially when a trade could help shore up an average offense. They still also have talented youngster Kris Medlen, should someone fall injured.