BOSTON — The Red Sox traded All-Star third baseman Shea Hillenbrand to Arizona for Byung-Hyun Kim on Thursday, cashing in their most tradable player for a former reliever who will join their rotation.
Kim is best known for his Yankee Stadium meltdown in Games 4 and 5 of the 2001 World Series, but has had a solid career with Arizona.
Boston general manager Theo Epstein said the team plans to start Kim Tuesday at Pittsburgh. Manager Grady Little also may use Kim out of the bullpen this weekend in Toronto.
"Grady and I just talked to BK, and he tells us he's excited to do whatever the team asks him to do in order to help the team win," Epstein said.
Kim reluctantly filled the closer's role in Arizona after Matt Mantei injured an elbow in 2001 and holds the club record with 70 saves, including a team-record 36 last season. He was 8-3 last year with a 2.04 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 84 innings.
But he never hid his desire to be a starter, and he was given a chance this year. He is 1-5 with a 3.56 ERA, but he has been hurt by a lack of run support.
Although Boston's plan to employ a closer by committee has been undermined by the shaky performance of its relievers, Kim fills a more immediate need for someone to start while ace Pedro Martinez is on the disabled list. He is eligible to come off the DL this weekend.
"After some discussion and inquiry on their part as to BK's preference, Theo assured us that BK would slot into their rotation," Kim's agent, Jeff Moorad, said after speaking with Epstein.
Moorad said Kim did not rule out a return to the bullpen "but BK made it clear through me that his preference was to start, and Theo's position was that the team would honor that request."
The Diamondbacks, two-time defending NL West champions, have struggled on offense and sorely needed a right-handed hitter. Arizona is 24-29, 8 1/2 games behind first-place San Francisco.
"Pretty clearly, we need the offensive help, and we need it sooner rather than later," Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "We've played what, 53 games, now. You keep saying 'Well, there's a lot of time left,' but every day there's less time left.
"This is a player we think will help us score runs, and that's what we need to do to have any real success . . . "
Hillenbrand, who is from Mesa, Ariz., and played for Mesa Community College, jumped from Double-A to the major leagues in spring training two years ago and made the AL All-Star team last year. But his lack of patience at the plate made him the frequent subject of trade talks as Epstein stressed on-base percentage and working pitchers deep into the count.
For most of the winter, Hillenbrand was discussed as bait for Expos starter Bartolo Colon. That deal fell through when the Red Sox refused to include pitcher Casey Fossum along with Hillenbrand, and Colon was traded to the Chicago White Sox instead.
Even so, the Red Sox worked Hillenbrand out at first base and gathered infielders in case he was eventually dealt.
Hillenbrand has batted .303 with 38 RBIs, playing 49 of Boston's 52 games in all. He has shared third base with Bill Mueller, who leads the Red Sox with a .382 batting average in 44 games; at first base, sharing the duties with David Ortiz and Kevin Millar, Hillenbrand has been the team's best fielder.
"He's a run-producer. He drives in runs," Garagiola said. "He does not hit a lot of home runs, although he hit one last night, but hits a lot of doubles, puts the ball in play, works the whole field."
Hillenbrand was considered even more valuable because he makes just $407,500 and isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2006 season. Kim makes $3.25 million and is eligible for free agency after the '05 season.
Despite his limited service time, Hillenbrand is 27 and has been with the Red Sox organization since he was drafted in the 10th round in 1996. He was one of four players on the Boston roster that came up through the system.
Epstein traveled to Toronto to break the news to Hillenbrand personally.
"We had a good talk, and he took it very professionally," Epstein said. "I thanked him for the terrific work he had done for the organization and he said it had been a privilege to play for the Red Sox and he is excited to play for the D-backs as well."
Although Kim is just 24, the South Korean is in his fifth season in the majors. Kim has been in the rotation now that Mantei is back, but one potential hitch to the trade came when Mantei and rookie starter Brandon Webb returned to Phoenix for MRI exams.
Mantei had stiffness in his shoulder, and Webb is on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis. Garagiola said neither injury is expected to be a long-term problem, although he hadn't heard the MRI results.
Kim was placed on the 15-day DL on April 30 with a bruised right ankle, an injury caused when he was hit with part of a broken bat.
He came off the DL and allowed just one run in seven innings at San Francisco Tuesday night but got no decision when the Diamondbacks couldn't hold a 2-1 lead and lost 4-3 in 13 innings. There were two Red Sox scouts to watch.
AP sports writer Bob Baum contributed to this story from Phoenix.