Well, it looks like we can forget those Royals-wanna-sign-Orlando Hudson rumors. Our Ken Gurnick reports that the Dodgers have reached a deal with Hudson for $3.4 million but with more than that (a possible $4.6 million) in incentives. It’ll be interesting to see what those entail. (Hudson made $6.2 mil last year.)

It was always a long shot that the Royals would sign Hudson because general manager Dayton Moore would have had to slash some payroll to add some payroll, not an easy task. Moore always downplayed the possibility, indicating he wasn’t going to go through the roster whacking players just so he could sign Hudson.

So let’s let Mark Teahen, Willie Bloomquist, Alberto Callaspo, Esteban German and Tug Hulett patrol the dirt around second base and see what happens. Manager Trey Hillman says he’ll take a long look at Teahen at second before he goes off to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. But he also wants Teahen to take some turns in the outfield, too, to stay sharp in the pasture. Put everybody who’s competing at first base and second base on the diamond at the same time and the field might tilt to the right. It’s going to be an interesting spring at those spots.

— Dick Kaegel