updated 6:57 p.m. ET Aug. 17, 2006

TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays traded former AL Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske and about $2.8 million to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday for a player to be named.

Hinske, an outfielder who also can play first and third, is hitting .264 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs. Boston is assuming the $1,063,525 remaining from his $4,325,000 salary this season. Hinske is due $5,625,000 next year, and Toronto agreed to pay Boston $2,812,500 by July 15.

The emergence of right fielder Alex Rios, left fielder Reed Johnson and the offseason acquisitions of third baseman Troy Glaus and first baseman Lyle Overbay affected Hinske’s playing time.

“We just had too many guys playing the positions he was in. He wasn’t going to get a lot of playing time,” Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. “It’s just a move for us to create some financial flexibility.”

The 29-year-old Hinske won the 2002 AL rookie award when he hit .279 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs. He was rewarded with a $14.75 million, five-year deal before the 2003 season, but has struggled since and was used off the bench this year.

Hinske was pulled from the starting lineup shortly before the start of Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Florida. He told reporters after the game that he was just awaiting his fate.

The left-handed hitting Hinske has a .376 on-base percentage and .575 slugging percentage against right-handers. He could spell Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell in Boston’s infield and Wily Mo Pena and Trot Nixon in the outfield.

The Blue Jays also called up infielder John Hattig and left-hander Davis Romero from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Hinske and reliever Scott Schoeneweis, dealt Wednesday to Cincinnati.

The Schoeneweis trade saved Toronto around $600,000 this year.

“The core of players is still here. We’re just trying to free up money for next season,” Ricciardi said.

The two trades this week, along with the deal last month that sent Shea Hillenbrand to San Francisco, have freed up around $12 million for 2007 payroll.

Toronto outfielder Vernon Wells’ contract runs through 2007. The Blue Jays are also interested in bringing back outfielder Frank Catalanotto next season.

“Obviously, if you want to talk about Vernon, we needed some money for that,” Ricciardi said. “We’d love to bring Catalanotto back. We’re going to talk about that. We’ve got to fill a need at some point behind the plate. We’re probably going to be in a situation where we have to be financially smart with our money and we’ll see we’re at the end of the year.”

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Hattig is set to become the first native of Guam to appear in a major league baseball game.

“It caught me by surprise,” Hattig said before Thursday night’s game at Tampa Bay. “I didn’t expect it. I’m nervous and excited. Hopefully, I do well enough to stay.”

Hattig might have his father and four of his uncles fly from Guam to see the Blue Jays’ series at Baltimore that starts Friday night.

Toronto manager John Gibbons said Hattig could see some time at first, third and DH.

“He’ll pick up a game here and there,” Gibbons said. “He’ll be anxious to go. Anytime a guy gets that first call to the majors, it’s big.”

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