Blue Jays acquire 1B Lyle Overbay from Brewers

Updated: December 8, 2005, 2:08 AM ET
SportsTicker

DALLAS - Aparently the Toronto Blue Jays weren't satisfied after signing free agent pitchers B.J. Ryan and A.J. Burnett.

The Blue Jays acquired first baseman Lyle Overbay and a player to be named late Wednesday night from the Milwaukee Brewers for pitcher Dave Bush, outfielder Gabe Gross and a player to be named.

Overbay hit .276 with a career-high 19 homers and 72 RBIs last season. The 28-year-old, who set a franchise record and led the majors with 53 doubles in 2004, likely will supplant Eric Hinske, who hit just .262 with 15 homers.

"He really fits into what were trying to do offensively," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said of Overbay, who recorded 78 walks and a .367 on-base percentage.

The departure of Overbay frees up first base for prized prospect Prince Fielder, who hit .288 with a pair of homers in 59 at-bats this past season for Milwaukee.

After slugging 50 homers in his first two full seasons in the minors, the 21-year-old son of former major league slugger Cecil Fielder batted .291 with 28 homers and 86 RBIs in 103 games at Class AAA Nashville.

One of the Blue Jays' most promising young pitchers, Bush struggled in 2005, going 5-11 with a 4.49 ERA in 24 starts and one relief appearance. The 25-year-old, who is 10-15 with a 4.15 ERA in parts of two seasons with the Jays, likely will take a back-of-the-rotation slot for the Brewers.

"If we were going to trade Lyle, we were hoping to get pitching back," Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin said. "He's probably going to be in the rotation, but he can pitch out of the bullpen as well."

Gross, 26 and the 15th overall pick in 2001, hit .250 with a homer and seven RBIs in 92 at-bats for Toronto and .297 with six homers and 46 RBIs in 102 games at Class AA Syracuse.

The player to be named going to Milwaukee reportedly is Zach Jackson, a 2004 supplemental first-round pick.

A 6-5 lefthander, Johnson was a combined 16-8 in 27 starts over three levels and is considered one of the Blue Jays' most coveted prospects. The 22-year-old started the season at Class A Dunedin, going 8-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 10 starts.

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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