SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres finalized their $11.5 million, two-year contract with second baseman Orlando Hudson on Monday.

The 33-year-old Hudson needed to pass a physical exam.

He spent the 2010 season with the Minnesota Twins and hit .268 with six home runs and 37 RBIs. He replaces David Eckstein, who became a free agent.

“We’re thrilled to get him here to San Diego,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “Our focus at the beginning of the offseason was really to strengthen ourselves up the middle. I think with the addition of Cameron Maybin, Jason Bartlett and now, Orlando, we feel a ton better about our team up the middle.”

White Sox: Jesse Crain can’t help it: Pitching for the White Sox is going to be a bit odd for a reliever who has played his entire seven-year career for AL Central rival Minnesota.

Of course, Crain said, the Twins didn’t make an effort to keep him before he signed three-year, $13-million offer with Chicago. “It’s going to be weird,” he said Monday. “I came up with the Twins. I’ve never been anywhere else. I’m very good friends with the players over there. (So) I’m going to look at it as a challenge. It’s going to be fun to go back there and face them.”

Marlins: Florida Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco has agreed to a $26.5 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations said Monday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract won’t become final until Nolasco passes a physical.

Nationals: Outfielder Rick Ankiel and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract.

The deal announced Monday includes $1.25 million in performance bonuses: $200,000 each for 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 plate appearances, and $250,000 for 375.

Indians: Austin Kearns, who spent four months with the Indians last season before he was traded to the Yankees, returned to the club on Monday by agreeing to a $1.3 million, one-year contract.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres finalized their $11.5 million, two-year contract with second baseman Orlando Hudson on Monday.

The 33-year-old Hudson needed to pass a physical exam.

He spent the 2010 season with the Minnesota Twins and hit .268 with six home runs and 37 RBIs. He replaces David Eckstein, who became a free agent.

“We’re thrilled to get him here to San Diego,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “Our focus at the beginning of the offseason was really to strengthen ourselves up the middle. I think with the addition of Cameron Maybin, Jason Bartlett and now, Orlando, we feel a ton better about our team up the middle. Orlando is a proven winner, a four-time Gold Glove winner and I think he’s going to bring a ton of offense to our team, a ton of defense and a ton of energy.”

Maybin, the center fielder, was obtained from Florida earlier in the offseason and Bartlett was obtained from Tampa Bay last week.

“It’s a great young team,” Hudson said. “I saw what they did last year and I’m glad to be a part of it now.”

The Padres were in contention until the last day of the season.

Hudson said the security of the deal “definitely means a lot and so does coming to San Diego, this ballpark, this great place.”

He said he’s looking forward to playing with Bartlett.

“Bartlett wasn’t an All-Star for no reason,” Hudson said. “We’ll get a few days early in the spring, go out there and have fun, take a couple of fungos and before you know me and Bartlett will be right on time.”

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres have finalized their $11.5 million, two-year contract with second baseman Orlando Hudson.

The 33-year-old Hudson needed to pass a physical exam.

He spent the 2010 season with the Minnesota Twins and hit .268 with six home runs and 37 RBI. He replaces David Eckstein, who became a free agent.

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres have finalized their $11.5 million, two-year contract with second baseman Orlando Hudson.

The 33-year-old Hudson needed to pass a physical exam.

He spent the 2010 season with the Minnesota Twins and hit .268 with six home runs and 37 RBIs. He replaces David Eckstein, who became a free agent.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres finalized their $11.5 million, two-year contract with second baseman Orlando Hudson on Monday.

The 33-year-old Hudson needed to pass a physical exam.

He spent the 2010 season with the Minnesota Twins and hit .268 with six home runs and 37 RBIs. He replaces David Eckstein, who became a free agent.

“We’re thrilled to get him here to San Diego,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “Our focus at the beginning of the offseason was really to strengthen ourselves up the middle. I think with the addition of Cameron Maybin, Jason Bartlett and now, Orlando, we feel a ton better about our team up the middle. Orlando is a proven winner, a four-time Gold Glove winner and I think he’s going to bring a ton of offense to our team, a ton of defense and a ton of energy.”

Maybin, the center fielder, was obtained from Florida earlier in the offseason and Bartlett was obtained from Tampa Bay last week.

“It’s a great young team,” Hudson said. “I saw what they did last year and I’m glad to be a part of it now.”

The Padres were in contention until the last day of the season.

Hudson said the security of the deal “definitely means a lot and so does coming to San Diego, this ballpark, this great place.”

He said he’s looking forward to playing with Bartlett.

“Bartlett wasn’t an All-Star for no reason,” Hudson said. “We’ll get a few days early in the spring, go out there and have fun, take a couple of fungos and before you know me and Bartlett will be right on time.”

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.