Bartlett, Hudson in jeopardy of being released by Padres

Some executives around the game believe veteran shortstop Jason Bartlett has a good chance to be released eventually by the Padres and that Orlando Hudson is another candidate for release.

Bartlett has two issues. One is that he is batting .135, and that's the big one. The other is that he has an option for 2013 that vests for $5.5 million after 432 plate appearances.

The Padres can't be paying a player producing at his current level that salary (neither could anyone else, really). He also makes $5.5 million this year.

The Padres are set to begin looking at some of their other middle-infield options. The struggles of Bartlett and Hudson were a reason behind the trade for infielder Alexi Amarista from the Angels for reliever Ernesto Frieri. Amarista plus Andy Parrino, Everth Cabrera and Logan Forsythe, who's currently on the disabled list, are the Padres' younger middle-infield options.

Hudson, who like Bartlett makes $5.5 million this year, is producing a bit more and in fact even leads the league with five triples. But Hudson is batting just .204 overall and has a .578 OPS.

Bartlett's OPS is a woeful .433.

Scott Miller of CBSSports.com first broached the possibility that the pair could be in jeopardy of being released.