DETROIT – To general manager Jack Zduriencik, it was too good a chance to pass up.

Bill Hall, the 29-year-old Milwaukee infielder who has started at shortstop, third base and in the outfield, was dangling in trade Thursday – with the remainder of his $6.8 million salary this year and more than 75 per cent of his $8.4 million salary for 2010 paid by the Brewers – in exchange for a Class A pitcher who’d been in the minor league system since 2003.

Zduriencik made the deal, sending 25-year-old Ruben Flores to Milwaukee.

Hall, batting .201 this season in 76 games, will join Seattle here today.

“He's having a terrible year and he knows it, but this is a man who not only can play all over the field but has started regularly in the big-leagues at three positions,” Zduriencik said. “We can take a look at him this year and he might be a Ronny Cedeno-type player for us, with more offensive upside. He gives us a lot of experience and versatility.”

Hall has spent his entire eight-year career with Milwaukee, batting .253 with 102 home runs and 367 career RBI in 831 games. Though his productivity has dropped, in 2006 Hall hit 35 home runs.

“I want to let our coaching staff get its hands on him,” Zduriencik said. “They've helped some players who've struggled find themselves. Bill's a quality guy, and he's never repeated that breakout season he had a couple of years ago. ut he's a hard worker, a good person.”

Apparently the Brewers will pick up Hall’s 2009 salary and pay $7.1 of his $8.4 million deal next season.

In return, Milwaukee gets Ruben Flores, 25, was 3-2 with 18 saves and a 4.39 ERA in 44 relief appearances this season in Class A. He was originally drafted by Seattle in 2003.

Tinsley on paternity leave

Mariners outfield and first base coach Lee Tinsley left the team Wednesday to join wife Susan in Arizona, where she gave birth earlier than expected to the couple’s first daughter.

Nia Tinsley was born Tuesday night in Scottsdale, far enough ahead of schedule that the Tinsleys thought it wasn’t going to happen during this seven-day road t rip.

Babies, however, run on their own schedule, and Nia now joins the Tinsley’s two sons, Kobie and Ethan. Tinsley will rejoin the team in Seattle next week.

In the meantime, minor league coordinator of instruction, Tim Tolman, is with the Mariners and will serve as the first base coach throughout the trip, then stay a few extra days with the team in Seattle.

“It’s a great opportunity for him to see what we have at the major league level, how we work, let him just have a look at the club,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “We’ve already spent about an hour talking to him about the minor league system. It’s good for all of us.”

Tolman, 43, is no stranger to coaching. He spent the last two years as the third base coach with the Washington Nationals. Tolman also played all or parts of seven big-league seasons, with Houston and Detroit.

On tap

Seattle concludes its series here with a 10:05 a.m. (PDT) game tha will be televised on FSN. Probable starting pitchers: Ryan Rowland-Smith (2-1, 3.60) vs. Jarrod Washburn (8-7, 2.95)