Hudson grew up a Braves fan

Hudson grew up a Braves fan (AJC)

For Christmas last year, Kim Hudson gave her husband Tim a set of billiard balls bearing logos of the Oakland Athletics and Atlanta Braves. "He's always been a Braves fan," she said of the pitcher from Phenix City, Ala. "And I didn't want to give him Yankees [balls] because I didn't want to look at them." The couple needn't get new balls for their pool table this Christmas. The American League's winningest pitcher over the past five seasons was traded Thursday from Oakland to the Braves, who have put together one of baseball's best rotations.

Hudson, 29, joins the team he adored as a skinny kid growing up along the Alabama-Georgia state line, before he became an All-American at Auburn. "I always wondered if I would ever have an opportunity to wear a Braves uniform," said Hudson, donning a Braves jersey and cap as he sat between manager Bobby Cox and general manager John Schuerholz at Turner Field on Friday. "This is a dream come true for me and my family."

As it was for the Braves, who got a tough, talented pitcher whose .702 career winning percentage in six seasons is the third-best since 1900 by a pitcher with at least 100 or more decisions. "He's one of the best," Cox said of the 6-foot, 175-pound right-hander, who features a 93-mph sinker, devastating splitter and slider. "We're going to try to hang onto Tim as long as we can."

For the Hudsons, who have two infant daughters, coming to Atlanta softened the blow of being traded by the only organization he'd known. "It's the first time we've had to deal with [being traded]," said Hudson, traded because the A's didn't think they could afford to keep him when he's eligible for free agency next winter.

The couple was at lunch Thursday in Auburn, where they met in college and make their home. His cell phone rang. It was A's GM Billy Beane, who said it was the toughest such call he ever made. Hudson was the ace of the talented Oakland staff, a team leader admired by all. "There's a lot of sadness involved, but also a lot of excitement," Hudson said. "This [Atlanta] is definitely a place where we feel comfortable. Players don't like getting traded, especially from an organization you grew up in, and have so many friends. "But I said that if there's one team I could be traded to, to make this transition easier, it had to be Atlanta."

The Braves gave up outfielder Charles Thomas, right-hander Juan Cruz and top left-handed prospect Dan Meyer to get Hudson, who has a gaudy 92-39 record and 3.30 ERA in six seasons in the majors, including 20 wins in 2000 and a 2.70 ERA in 2003.

Hudson said he hopes he hasn't forgotten how to hit since his two years at Auburn, where in 1997 he batted .396 with 18 home runs and 95 RBIs, and went 15-2 with a 2.97 ERA and 165 strikeouts. He edged out Florida State's J.D. Drew and Rice's Lance Berkman for the Rotary Smith Award for national player of the year, as voted by sports information directors.

Good as his record in the majors has been -- he averaged more than 17 wins from 2000 to 2003 -- it could have been better, if not for bullpen meltdowns. Consider this stunner: Hudson had a 2.84 ERA in 30 no-decisions in the past three seasons. "I've seen him pitch a lot on television," Cox said, "and never seen him pitch poorly."

Hudson was 12-6 with a 3.53 ERA last season and spent time on the disabled list with a nagging strain in the left hip/side area, a problem that's cropped up for three years. He said he's added stretching and strengthening exercises to his regimen this winter specifically designed to alleviate the problem, and thinks it's doing the trick.

Hudson will make $6.75 million in 2005 and is expected to command a four-year offer worth at least $48 million as a free agent. He joins a rotation that includes John Smoltz, John Thomson and left-handers Horacio Ramirez and Mike Hampton.

The Braves say there were no assurances from Hudson about signing an extension with Atlanta, and he seemed a bit uncomfortable with that subject Friday. "When that time comes, we're going to definitely be happy to talk to them," he said. "Right now, I just ready to do whatever it takes to come to this organization and fit in, be one of the guys." Cox said, "If it's only one year, it's one year. But it'd be better to have him five years.

The team gave up a lot of young talent for a one year rental. I sure hope they work out a deal.