Nationals a factor in pursuit of Teixeira

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals still are players in the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, according to a baseball source, and free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson has interest in playing in Washington.

The Nationals are looking for a first baseman, and Teixeira is one of the players the team has targeted to replace Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young.

However, Nationals president Stan Kasten denied to the Washington Post that a contract offer to Teixeira was imminent.

"You're way ahead of us here," Kasten told the newspaper.

MLB.com was first to report, on Nov. 2, that the Nationals were interested in Teixeira. Teixeira hit a combined .303 with 33 home runs and 121 RBIs for the Braves and Angels last season. In his first year of free agency, Teixeira, a Scott Boras client, is expected to fetch a contract in the neighborhood of $100 million.

As far as Hudson goes, he said he wouldn't mind playing for the Nationals because he is friends with outfielder Willie Harris and would like to play with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

"I have interest in any Major League team that has interest in me," Hudson said. "The Nationals are a good young club. They have a lot of energy. ... I would definitely be comfortable if I was over there. We'll see how things go. I don't know."

Hudson, who was one of the reasons the Diamondbacks won the National League West title in 2007, could be a top-of-the-lineup hitter in Washington.

Hudson also is considered a defensive wizard, having won Gold Gloves from 2005-07.