The San Diego Padres are getting attention from other teams on three of their starting infielders, shortstop Jason Bartlett, third baseman Chase Headley and second baseman Orlando Hudson, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Morosi adds that he personally expects the team to deal at least one of them by Spring Training, which could possibly be related to the team's low payroll.
A trade of Hudson would be a pure salary dump at this point, though, as Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports reports. Hudson, who turns 34 in a few days, had a disappointing year for the Padres in 2011. Struggling with some injuries, he played in only 119 games, posting a .246/.329/.352 line over 454 plate appearances.
That actually qualifies as a league-average offensive performance given the effects of Petco Park, but at this point Hudson isn't much more than a fringe-average regular. That's still a useful piece, but Hudson is owed $7.5 million for 2012, and the Padres understandably would prefer to shed that commitment.
If the Padres can rid themselves of Hudson's contract, or find a deal that they like for Headley, Daniel Murphy could be a potential trade candidate. San Diego has already inquired on Murphy, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, although he would admittedly be stretched defensively as a regular second baseman.