MLB NOTEBOOK: NEWEST ANGEL HILLENBRAND DEFENDS HIS PAST.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

Raised on Dodgers baseball, Shea Hillenbrand has respect for his new manager, Mike Scioscia.

Respect for a manager is not something Hillenbrand had last season when he was traded from Toronto to San Francisco after an escapade the newest Angel categorized as a smear campaign.

Hillenbrand agreed to a one-year, $6 million free-agent contract with the Angels the day after Christmas and his new club gave him the opportunity to speak about it Thursday in a conference call with the media.

Hillenbrand, who said he wouldn't mind being in the lineup at first base, third or designated hitter and is content with being a utility player, faced more questions about an incident in Toronto last season when he left the team for three days to finish the process for adopting a daughter. When he returned, his stature with the team had plummeted, he was challenged to a fight by his manager John Gibbons, and ultimately designated for assignment before being shipped off to the Giants.

``In a very crazy way, it's the best thing that has happened to me in my career because the Blue Jays told my agent they would bury me and not play me,'' said Hillenbrand, a .287 career hitter in sixmajor-league seasons with 104 home runs and 459 RBIs. ``The Blue Jays were looking for an excuse because I left to adopt my daughter. Since it was an adoption, they thought I didn't need to go.''

He did stress Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi approved a three- day leave of absence for the adoption only to call and ask him to return since the Blue Jays were going to face a left-handed pitcher. Hillenbrand said an early return was impossible.

Hillenbrand wasn't completely innocent during his downfall with the Blue Jays. Trouble ramped up after his return from the adoption when he reportedly wrote on a clubhouse message board the phrases ``play for yourself,'' and this ``ship was sinking.''

-- Doug Padilla

Unit returns: The New York Yankees reached a tentative agreement with Arizona to send pitcher Randy Johnson back to the Diamondbacks for reliever Luis Vizcaino and threeminor leaguers.

Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes confirmed ``an agreement in principle.''

Peavy arrested: San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct Thursday at Mobile (Ala.) Regional Airport. He was released on a $350 bond.

Padres general manager Kevin Towers said he was told that Peavy was headed for a goodwill tour of the Dominican Republic when he double- parked and was told by airport police to move his car. When he wouldn't, he was arrested.

Loretta lands: Infielder Mark Loretta (St. Francis of LaCanada Flintridge) and the Houston Astros agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract, a deal that allows the 35-year-old to make an additional $1 million in performance bonuses.