Dylan Hernandez, in a report for the Los Angeles Times, expects that Manny Ramirez will exercise his $20 million option with the Dodgers.
In addition, Hernandez believes that second baseman Orlando Hudson and pitcher Randy Wolf will not return to Los Angeles and will leave as free agents.
…Hudson’s name is obviously going to be mentioned, but [...]

Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors lists Jake Peavy, Roy Halladay, Erik Bedard, Matt Holliday, Vernon Wells and Dan Uggla among 14 players who could be available at the July 31 trade deadline:
Speaking of players not on the Mets…
In a post to his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman wonders still why the [...]

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that free-agent Orlando Hudson has  “agreed in principle with the Dodgers, pending a physical.”
Update, 3:33 p.m.
Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that the Dodgers have signed Hudson to a one-year contract worth $3.4 million with an additional $4.6 million in possible incentives.
Hudson also cost the Dodgers their first-round Draft pick in [...]

In his latest Rumblings & Grumblings column for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark says the Mets and Yankees have not pursued free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson this off season, despite Hudson’s comments on the MLB Network last week.
Instead, Stark believes Hudson may be looking at signing a one-year contract with the Nationals or Dodgers.
…i believe, once the Mets [...]

Last night on MLB Network’s Hot Stove Show, free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson said he has been in contact with the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees and Nationals this off season.
However, in a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal writes, “Hudson would prefer to play for one of the New York teams… neither the Mets nor Yankees currently has [...]

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes the Braves are still on the Braves radar.
…interesting… because, the winter meetings buzz had been, that if the Braves could sign hudson or Orlando Cabrera, to play second, they’d more more inclined to part with Yunel Escobar in a deal to get Jake Peavy from the Padres… which [...]

Buster Olney of ESPN.com writes, “The Mets have quietly continued to gauge the market for Luis Castillo, and if they find a taker for at least some of his salary, that would leave them in position to pursue Orlando Hudson.”
…i believe, having talked with people connected to the team, the Mets would like to trade [...]

In a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal describes the Mets as ‘desperate to move 2B Luis Castillo,’ so they can sign free agent 2B Orlando Hudson.”
According to Rosenthal, “The only way to do it would be to exchange Castillo’s contract for another of similar value…When the Mets asked the Rangers about Castillo for Vicente Padilla they were told, ‘No [...]

As noted in an earlier post, free-agent SS Rafael Furcal told El Caribe that the A’s and Mets have each offered him a contract.
However, in an update to his blog for SI.com, Jon Heyman writes, “I wouldn’t doubt that the A’s have made him a big offer…I do doubt that the Mets have shown any [...]

In a report for the New York Post, Joel Sherman writes:

“Luis Castillo requested an offseason meeting in which he implored Mets officials not to trade him and also pledged to re-dedicate himself to offseason training to assure he is in top condition next season…Mets officials were pleased that Castillo did not want to flee from [...]

WFAN’s Mike Francesa says he talked with Mets GM Omar Minaya earlier today.
According to Minaya, per Francesa, the Mets intend to use all of their money on pitching, pitching and more pitching this off-season.
The Mets are interested in Francisco Rodriguez, but not for five years, as well as Brian Fuentes and Kerry Wood, and they [...]

In a post to his amazing Hot Stove blog for SI.com, Jon Heyman reports that the Mets have been gauging interest in RHP Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis and 2B Luis Castillo.
According to Heyman, “In preparation to trade Castillo, all Mets executives familiarized themselves with the list of bad contracts on other teams.  Needless to say, [...]

In a column for the New York Times, Jack Curry takes a look at 12 free agents, not named Sabathia, Teixeira or Ramirez, such as Orlando Hudson, Derek Lowe, Juan Cruz and Joe Beimel.
According to Curry, “If the Mets ate most of the $18 million left on Luis Castillo’s contract and traded him, they could sign Hudson.  [...]

At his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney breaks down the potential teams that would fit free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson.
As far as the Mets are concerned, Olney writes:
“It seems all but certain that the Mets will work to dump Luis Castillo, whose signing was a mistake, and Hudson would fit New York perfectly in so [...]

In his most recent mailbag for MLB.com, Marty Noble writes the following about free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson:
“From what I’m told, Hudson, a free agent, yearns to play for the Mets. I can’t be sure of that. I don’t know him. But what I know of him would suit the Mets’ purposes quite well. Whether or [...]