DALLAS -- It didn't take J.P. Ricciardi long to take his next step in strengthening the Blue Jays for the 2006 American League East race, this time by addressing the team's offensive needs.

The Toronto general manager completed a much-anticipated deal for Milwaukee first baseman Lyle Overbay late Wednesday night, again electrifying the Winter Meetings by acquiring the career .285 hitter while making little dent in the Blue Jays' frontline cast.

Overbay, who will turn 29 next month, was obtained along with a player to be named for a three-player package that includes right-hander Dave Bush, outfielder Gabe Gross and a player to be named.

That persistence paid off in a steady bat and some payroll tranquility. Overbay, who earned $446,000 last season, is arbitration eligible for the first time and won't be up for free agency until after the 2008 season.

"We know we'll have him for three years, and that's big," said Ricciardi, who likes a lot of other things about the 6-foot-2, 215-pound lefty.

Although Overbay is just coming into his own as a long-ball threat -- he has hit 35 homers the last two seasons after only four in his first 266 big-league at-bats -- he is already established as an extra-base threat. In the equivalent of a little more than two and a half seasons, starting off in Arizona, he has amassed 107 doubles.

"He's always been a high doubles guy, a good gap hitter, a big on-base guy," Ricciardi said. "He hits left-handers pretty good. He'll bat third to fifth in our lineup. He's a guy we've tried to get for a long time."

Ricciardi assembled a high-end package to get his man. Bush is a former second-round pick (2002) who has gone 10-15 in 40 starts the last two seasons. Gross was a first-round pick in 2001 who has seen only sporadic action in Toronto.

"You draft people because you believe they have a chance to pitch in the big leagues," Ricciardi said. "But drafting them gives you a chance to deal them, too."

Bush and Gross may have both hit a ceiling in Toronto and, while acknowledging everyone in the deal "was a little shocked," Ricciardi took the time to wish them well.

"Gabe will be in a good situation; Milwaukee is getting a good guy," Ricciardi said. "And Dave would've been a swing guy for us, and he's going someplace where he'll have a good chance to be in the rotation."

His arrival creates a logjam at first base, with Eric Hinske and Shea Hillenbrand still on the scene after having split time at the position last season.

With the signings of A.J. Burnett and B.J. Ryan, who displaces Miguel Batista from the closer's spot, the Blue Jays still have six men in their rotation, if Batista goes back to being a starter. The others are Roy Halladay, Gustavo Chacin, Ted Lilly and Josh Towers.

And even beyond Jackson, the Toronto system includes highly-rated young arms other teams consistently inquire about -- and only 2000 No. 1 draft choice Dustin McGowan is deemed off-limits.

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