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BOSTON - The Red Sox traded All-Star third baseman Shea Hillenbrand to Arizona for right-hander 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 he has had a solid career with Arizona.
Boston general manager Theo Epstein said the team plans to start Kim on 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 after Matt Mantei injured an elbow in 2001 and holds the club record with 70 saves, including a team-record 36 last season.
But he never hid his desire to start and was given a chance this season. He is 1-5 but has a 3.56 ERA and has had poor run support.
The Diamondbacks, two-time defending NL West champions, have struggled on offense and sorely needed a right-handed hitter.
"Pretty clearly, we need the offensive help, and we need it sooner rather than later," 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."
Manager search draws fineNEW YORK - The Marlins were fined this week by commissioner Bud Selig for not interviewing minority candidates before hiring Jack McKeon to replace manager Jeff Torborg.
The commissioner's office did not announce the fine, first reported by ESPN. Marlins president David Samson would not confirm or deny the fine, saying only "the issue has been resolved."
The amount was unknown. Selig can fine franchises up to $2-million.
Selig wouldn't discuss the subject: "I never comment on club matters."
Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said May 14 that Selig was looking into the Marlins' conduct.
VAUGHN MAY RETIRE: After six similar medical opinions, Mets first baseman Mo Vaughn acknowledged that even surgery probably won't save his career. Vaughn's arthritic left knee is so bad he is a candidate for knee replacement.
"I'm 35, not 40, (but) if I have the knee replacement surgery, it's going to be practically impossible to come back," Vaughn told ESPN's Peter Gammons.
Vaughn said he would have arthroscopic surgery next month.
ASTROS: Outfielder Richard Hidalgo went on the 15-day disabled list with a "mono-like virus."
A'S: Ron Gant, a two-time All-Star outfielder with 321 career home runs, was designated for assignment. Oakland recalled outfielder Billy McMillon from Triple-A Sacramento.
BLUE JAYS: Right-hander Justin Miller will miss the rest of the season after surgery on his pitching shoulder.
CARDINALS: Centerfielder Jim Edmonds is scheduled for an MRI exam today to determine if he has torn rib cartilage. Though in some pain, Edmonds said he felt better than he thought he would after bruising his ribs making a catch Wednesday. He has no timetable for his return.
RANGERS: Texas assigned right-hander Alan Benes to Triple-A Oklahoma and recalled right-hander Reynaldo Garcia.
REDS: Infielder Ryan Freel went on the 15-day disabled list with a torn left hamstring. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.