Richard Anxiously Awaits...

...word on whether Phil Nevin will sign off on this apparent deal, as reported by ESPN.com:

The Baltimore Orioles on Saturday agreed to trade right-handed pitcher Sidney Ponson to San Diego for first baseman Phil Nevin.
Nevin has a limited no-trade clause and had yet to approve the deal, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reports, and according to Nevin's clause, he can veto a trade to the Orioles. Olney adds that it could be a few days before Nevin decides.

I'm guessing that Nevin will nix the trade, if only to piss Richard off. On the other hand, who the hell would want the aptly-named Ponson? A pitcher with David Wells' physique and Rick Ankiel's command is a pretty useless commodity.

Is it my imagination, or does Towers seem to have a thing for fat pitchers? In the last two seasons, Wells, Reyes, Beck, Osuna, and possibly Ponson, will have all taken the mound on behalf of the Padres. I think I may be in line for a long-relief job after rosters expand.

Additional trade news from ESPN:

SAN DIEGO -- The slumping NL West-leading San Diego Padres acquired third baseman Joe Randa from the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday and demoted struggling Sean Burroughs to Triple-A. They agreed to a trade that would send first baseman Phil Nevin to Baltimore for pitcher Sidney Ponson, but had yet to ask the slugger to waive his limited no-trade clause.

I don't know anyone outside of Joe Morgan who thinks a player of Randa's caliber makes a significant difference over the course of less than half a season. But if Burroughs' demotion helps him find his way to a career as an above-average regular at the hot corner (which I find wholly plausible), then this is a good deal.

Does anyone remember Nevin grudgingly moving from third to first to accomodate Burroughs' ascension to the big leagues? Sometimes things don't work out as you would expect them to.