As questions persist about the health of Brent Morel, the White Sox appear to have made a move to shore up their infield:
The irrepressible ODog says he's going to sign with the White Sox. Peter Gammons (@pgammo) May 19, 2012That's Orlando Hudson, who was released by the Padres on Thursday. The 34-year-old Hudson hit .211.260.317 in 35 games with San Diego this season, although he did hit five triples. Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times also is reporting the signing, as is Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
For his career, Hudson has a .343 on-base percentage compiled in stops with Toronto, Arizona, Los Angeles, Minnesota and San Diego. He's tailed off in recent seasons, as since posting a career-high .376 on-base percentage with Arizona in 2007 his OBP has dropped every year since.
Hudson hasn't played anywhere but second base in his career, but with Gordon Beckham showing more fight at the plate and playing fantastic defense, he may be called on to play third base, if what he's telling Gammons is true. As Larry from South Side Sox points out, Hudson came up through the Blue Jays' system as a third baseman, so he's not totally inexperienced there.