A's unload Hernandez, disgruntled Long on Padres for Kotsay

A's trade Lilly to Blue Jays

The Oakland Athletics will send catcher Ramon Hernandez and disgruntled outfielder Terrence Long to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Mark Kotsay, SportsLine.com sources have confirmed.

The deal will give the Padres the high-caliber catcher they're seeking, and it will allow Oakland to add more flexibility to its 2004 budget, possibly to make a stronger play to retain shortstop Miguel Tejada. In dispatching both Hernandez and Long to the Padres, the Athletics will save roughly $1 million in 2004 (taking into account Kotsay's salary) and more than $3 million in 2005.

Long publicly ripped manager Ken Macha in October after his playing time diminished and he fell out of favor with Macha. Long is due $3.575 million in '04 and $4.875 million in '05. Hernandez is due $2.9 million in '04 and $4.1 million in '05.

Kotsay has three years remaining on his deal at $5.5 million each season.

Hernandez, an All-Star in 2003, batted .273 with 21 homers and 78 RBI for Oakland last season during a career year.

Long, meanwhile, continued his descent in the other direction. He batted .245, his second consecutive season in the .240s after hitting .280 or higher in 2000 and 2001. He also had a career-low 61 RBI.

Kotsay, who struggled with back problems for most of the summer, is coming off of the roughest season of his career. He batted .266 with only seven homers and 38 RBI. He plans to spend most of the winter strengthening his back, and he should emerge as a very solid player for the Athletics.