What was it that Red from “Shawshank Redemption” said?

“Hope is a dangerous thing” he tells his friend Andy.

It is dangerous to hope that yesterday’s trade for Jon Rauch means the Arizona Diamondbacks are bringing back Orlando Hudson at second base. When it doesn’t happen, I’ll curse myself for ever having a glimmer of hope for his return.

I like the deal. Rauch is good, affordable, and in control (the D-Backs have him under financial control through the 2010 season). He’s good insurance if/when Juan Cruz and Brandon Lyon depart in the offseason.

Plus, he helps the D-Backs right now. And that ‘pen needs some help.

But now, when they get Cruz back, they feature a bullpen of Lyon, Rauch, Tony Pena, Chad Qualls, Cruz and maybe even Micah Owings. Yusmeiro Petit gave the organization something to think about with his outing yesterday. There is a lot of depth and a lot of versatility.

But to make the deal they had to trade the “second baseman of the future” in Emilio Bonafacio. So with him gone, who takes over for Hudson if/when he leaves. Mark Ellis? He ain’t cheap either. Augie Ojeda? Nice player but not every day. Chris Burke? Please. A root canal sounds more appealing. I want to hope it means they’ll bring Hudson back.

Hudson does something to help you win every night. For a moment last night, when he was hit in the ankle, it appeared the D-Backs were going to find out what life was like sans the O-Dog a little earlier than they would’ve like.

But here’s the rub: The difference between $8 million a year and $10 million a year doesn’t sound that drastic. But the difference between a 3 year, $24 million deal vs a 4 year, $40 million deal? See the dilemma? Forget annual salary. The total value of the deal will escalate to numbers I fear the D-Backs can’t match. And maybe they shouldn’t. That’s an awful lot to pay a second baseman.

I hope Orlando is coming back. I hope to see him at second base for the next several years. I hope his energy and enthusiasm and overall heady play continues in a Diamondback uniform.

But I’m not betting on it.