Garret Anderson's new deal with the Braves is worth $2.5 million, SI.com has learned.

Anderson is taking the spot that was expected to go to Ken Griffey Jr. before he jilted the Braves to go back to Seattle. The lefthanded-hitting Anderson is expected to platoon with Matt Diaz in left field.

The Braves have had one of the more interesting offseasons. While they tried but failed to make deals for Jake Peavy, Rafael Furcal and Griffey, and saw franchise great John Smoltz leave the team for the Red Sox, they acquired a lot of players, including pitchers Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami. They also brought back an old-time great by re-signing Tom Glavine.

Anderson's agreement was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Free-agent pitcher Kris Benson signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers, SI.com has learned.

The right-hander, 34, has been trying to come back since missing the 2007 season following rotator cuff surgery. He pitched in the Philadelphia Phillies' minor league system last year, going 1-6 with a 5.78 ERA in 67 innings. The Phillies released him on Aug. 30.

The minor-league deal gives him an opportunity to make a little more than $2 million. He will be given a chance to make the Rangers' rotation.

Benson is 68-73 with a 4.34 lifetime ERA in the majors and went 11-12 and 4.82 with the Baltimore Orioles in 2006. A former star at Clemson, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 overall draft, going to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

News of Benson being in serious talks with the Rangers was first reported by T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson appears headed to the Dodgers.

MLB.com and XM radio reported a deal is in place, and a person familiar with the talks confirmed that they are working toward a deal. MLB.com, which said the deal is for $3.4 million guaranteed, plus incentives, reported that Hudson only needs to pass a physical. He had a wrist injury last year, but is thought to be sound now.

Executives say Hudson was originally seeking a five-year deal for about $9-to-10 million per year this winter. However, he got caught in an increasingly tight market.

Hudson has won three Gold Gloves and played in one All-Star Game during his seven-year career with Toronto and Arizona.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Free agent third baseman Joe Crede's closing in on a deal with the Twins, SI.com has learned.

The lifelong White Sox player hit .248 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs this past year, when he was hampered by a back injury (but still made the AL All-Star team). Crede, 30, has 125 career home runs.

He starred on the 2005 World Series title team, but has had back trouble at different times in his career.

The Twins had been looking at a platoon situation at third base.

It isn't known how much Crede's deal will be worth, but it is expected to be incentive-laden. Minnesota press has reported that's it's likely to top out at $7 million, including incentives.

Rays utilityman Willy Aybar has agreed to a two-year deal worth about $2.6 million plus escalator clauses, avoiding arbitration, SI.com has learned.

Aybar has submitted a $1.05 million bid for arbitration, while the Rays submitted $900,000.

Aybar, 25, hit .253 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs in 95 games last season, his first with Tampa Bay.