OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics, figuring they needed to a find closer, acquired Billy Koch from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday for two minor leaguers.

The A's have been in the market for a relief ace because Jason Isringhausen is a free agent. He is expected to soon sign a four-year deal with St. Louis.

	Billy Koch Relief Pitcher Oakland A's Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L Sv K ERA 69 2 5 36 55 4.80

"Right now, I'm as happy as I could be," Koch said. "It's real interesting. I can't wait to get started."

Toronto got third baseman Eric Hinske and right-hander Justin Miller for Koch. The Blue Jays are looking to trim payroll during the offseason, and more moves are possible.

Koch said he was fishing, about 50 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, when the deal was made.

"My head's been sort of spinning, trying to get my head together," he said from his home in Clearwater, Fla. "It's going to be hectic at first."

Newly hired Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi -- the Athletics' former director of player personnel -- acquired two familiar players in his first deal since taking over.

"Hinske fits everything I love about a player," Ricciardi said. "He's an on-base freak, has power, runs well, and is a good third baseman."

Koch went 2-5 with 36 saves in 44 opportunities while posting a 4.80 ERA for the Blue Jays last season. He was 11-13 with 100 saves and a 3.57 ERA in three seasons with Toronto.

"He's got a lot more experience than when Izzy first came here at the same age," A's general manager Billy Beane said. "He's coming in at age 26 and he has 100 career saves."

Koch looked forward to pitching for the Athletics at the Coliseum.

"I didn't like the park when I was an opposing pitcher," he said. "I gave up a lot of runs there."

Hinske, 24, was considered one of the A's top prospects, hitting .282 with 25 homers, 79 RBI and a .373 on-base percentage for Triple-A Sacramento last season, but Oakland is set at third base with Eric Chavez.

Ricciardi said Hinske will have a chance to compete for the starting third-base job in the spring.

"He's not that far away," Ricciardi said. "At worst probably half a year."

Miller, 24, played with Hinske at Sacramento last season, going 7-10 with a 4.75 ERA.

"We like Eric Hinske quite a bit, but we have a Gold Glover there who just turned 24," Beane said. "So to make this possible you have to deal from a position of strength. You're not going to acquire a guy like Koch without giving something up. I guess we filled a need."

Koch was expendable because the Blue Jays wanted to use right-hander Kelvim Escobar as a closer next season.

Los Angeles and St. Louis also expressed interest in Koch, but Ricciardi like Oakland's offer best.

"A lot of teams expressed interest, but we couldn't come up with matches," Ricciardi said. "This was the best deal we thought we could make. We got guys who are very close to being in the big leagues."

Notes
The Blue Jays designated catcher Alberto Castillo for assignment. Castillo hit .198 with one homer and four RBI in 66 games last season.