The Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million contract with Daniel Hudson, who is recovering after undergoing season-ending surgery for a torn ACL in his left knee. Hudson’s contract extension includes a team option for 2024.
He returned to the Dodgers organization last December, signing a one-year deal just before the MLB lockout began. Hudson received a $6 million salary this season, and the contract included a $6.5 million team option for 2023 and a $1 million buyout.
The Dodgers reworking Hudson’s contract and coming to terms on an extension is the same approach they took with Blake Treinen and Max Muncy by guaranteeing next year in exchange for team control on 2024. Austin Barnes also was signed to a contract extension ahead of reaching free agency after the 2022 season.
Prior to the knee injury, Hudson went 2-3 with a 2.22 ERA, 2.05 FIP and 0.90 WHIP over 25 games. He additionally had a while 30.9% strikeout rate that was on pace to be the second-highest average of his career.
The veteran relief pitcher will be 36 years old at the start of the 2023 season.
Daniel Hudson recovering well from torn ACL
Hudson described his torn ACL as “extremely frustrating” and noted it’s “the first major injury that wasn’t my arm. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. But at this stage in my career, it’s kind of concerning, and it’s hard not to have bad thoughts. Hopefully, I can get through this and maybe give it another shot.”
The estimated timetable for Hudson’s recovery from the torn ACL was six to nine months. He recently was back at Dodger Stadium and said that process was going well. Hudson estimated he was around the first few weeks or initial month of an offseason training program.
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