When having a conversation of the top starting pitchers to play for the Atlanta Braves since the year 2000, Tim Hudson is a name that should come to mind. A right-hander who spent nine seasons of his 17-year MLB career with the organization, here is a career retrospective of Hudson's time with the Atlanta Braves.
Atlanta Braves Career Retrospective: RHP Tim Hudson
To officially begin the total retrospective of Hudson's time with the Braves, we have to begin back in December of 2004, when the former sixth round pick out of Auburn was traded to Atlanta after six seasons with the Oakland Athletics.
Hudson, a then two-time All-Star, had previously finished Top 10 in AL Cy Young voting three times with the Athletics, and was acquired by a Braves team that was coming off their third consecutive NLDS defeat at the time. Speaking of the deal as well, Hudson was acquired for three players - Juan Cruz, Dan Meyer, and Charles Thomas.
Hudson, as mentioned previously, would spend nine total seasons in Atlanta, a span in which the right-hander appeared in 244 career games, 243 of which were starts, with a combined 24.1 WAR with the team. From 2005-13, Hudson would own a combined 3.56 ERA across that span, with only one of his nine seasons with the Braves having an ERA north of 4.00 (2006: career-high 4.86 ERA).
Also included in that stretch were a few memorable seasons while in Atlanta, with none bigger than his 2010 campaign.
In 2010, Hudson would throw a total of 228.2 IP for the Braves across 34 starts, owning a 17-9 record with a 2.83 ERA and 139:74 K:BB ratio. Named the NL Comeback Player of the Year at seasons end, Hudson's ERA would be sixth-lowest in the National League that season, with the right-hander also making his third-career All-Star appearance, as well as finishing fourth in NL Cy Young voting.
Another one of Hudson's best seasons with the Braves would come a year later in 2011 as well, with the right-hander posting a 16-10 record with a 3.22 ERA and 158:56 K:BB ratio across 215 IP (34 starts).
Hudson was also a solid hitting pitcher for the Braves offensively as well, holding a career AVG of .173 with three HR and 39 RBI across nine seasons.
Looking at his time in Atlanta overall, where would you rank Hudson on the list of starters to pitch for the Braves since 2000?