TORONTO (CP) - Replacing Carlos Delgado's offence with one major signing was never an option for the Toronto Blue Jays.
So after completing the long-discussed deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks for infielder Shea Hillenbrand on Wednesday, along with the December signing of free agent Corey Koskie, general manager J.P. Ricciardi believes he has added two bats that can compensate for the slugger's loss.
''If you look at both of them, they could put up 36 homers and 160 RBIs,'' said Ricciardi. ''We weren't looking to replace Carlos. I don't think you replace that kind of hitter.''
The Blue Jays worked long and hard to get Koskie's signature on a contract and it took even longer to finalize the trade for Hillenbrand. His price was relatively steep, as the Blue Jays sent hard-throwing prospect Adam Peterson to Arizona in exchange.
Ricciardi had indicated earlier that it might take one of the team's top prospects to get some offensive help - a price in the end that he was forced to pay. Scoring runs was one of the Blue Jays' chief problems last season, something Ricciardi had to remedy for his team to improve on its 67-94 record.
''We've actually been working on it for over a month,'' said Ricciardi. ''It's good to have it done. We're happy to have him.''
Hillenbrand, 29, isn't a prototypical Blue Jays player as he rarely walks - usually anathema to an organization that stresses working the count and on-base percentage. But he certainly can hit, batting .310 last season for Arizona with 15 home runs and 80 RBIs in 148 games.
''It just goes to show you we're not pigeonholed,'' said Ricciardi. ''If you look at him the last three years he's averaged close to .280 with 18 homers and 80 RBIs.''
He's also hits right-handed, something the Blue Jays were looking for to help balance out the batting order. Vernon Wells was the club's only other power-hitter from the right side of the plate. Koskie, Eric Hinske and Frank Catalanotto are all lefties.
Hillenbrand can play first and third base - both of them poorly, as his 16 errors in 2004 would suggest - but is likely to spend the majority of his time at designated hitter. He also becomes insurance should Koskie get hurt at third base, or if Hinske falters at first.
''All three of those positions are available for him to get time at,'' said Ricciardi. ''The most important thing is to get his bat into the lineup every day.''
Hillenbrand, a career .288 hitter with 65 home runs and 309 RBIs, is eligible for salary arbitration and is expected to make in the neighbourhood of $4 million US. He can become eligible for free agency after the 2006 season.
The trade caps a busy week for the Blue Jays. On Tuesday, they signed free-agent reliever Scott Schoeneweis to a $5.25-million US, two-year deal while reliever Billy Koch signed a $900,000 one-year deal Monday. Righty Pete Walker and catcher Ken Huckaby also signed minor-league contracts Monday.
Peterson, 25, split last season between double-A New Hampshire and triple-A Syracuse. He also had a brief stint in Toronto, where he looked overwhelmed during three appearances. He posted a 16.88 ERA in 2 2/3 innings pitched.
In 19 games with the Syracuse SkyChiefs, he was 2-2 with a 12.86 ERA. In 27 games with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats he was also 2-2 with 15 saves and a 2.54 ERA.