Right-hander Tim Hudson agreed to a $28 million, three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves yesterday, giving the team a wealth of starting pitching and setting up a likely trade to bolster the offense.

Hudson could have returned to the Braves under a $12 million option, but the sides focused on a longer deal after he showed he had overcome major elbow surgery.

His new deal calls for salaries of $9 million in each of the next three seasons, and the Braves get a $9 million club option for 2013 with a $1 million buyout. If Hudson pitches at least 600 innings over the next three seasons, he would receive a $500,000 bonus after the 2012 season.

Hudson, 34, grew up in neighboring Alabama and wanted to remain close to home.

Jim Riggleman waited a decade for another chance to be a full-fledged manager in the major leagues -- no interim tag attached. He finally earned that job with Washington. The Nationals are sticking with Riggleman after promoting him from bench coach midway through this past season, officially announcing at a news conference yesterday that he will be the manager in 2010.

Riggleman replaced the fired Manny Acta in July on an interim basis. The Nationals were 26-61 (a .299 winning percentage) at the time and went 33-42 (.440) under Riggleman, finishing with a majors-worst record of 59-103.

Riggleman's best season came with the 1998 Chicago Cubs, who were led by NL MVP Sammy Sosa's 66 homers and went 90-73 to make the playoffs as a wild card. But Chicago went 67-95 to finish last in 1999, Riggleman's final year there. Next season will be his first since then with a managing job in spring training.

Kansas City agreed to terms with infielder Wilson Betemit, 28, who spent last season in the Chicago White Sox's organization. He signed a minor league contract. He opened last season on the White Sox's roster and hit .200 in 20 games, playing first and third base. In 72 games with Class AAA Charlotte in 2009, he hit .241 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs.

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