Padres' Nevin mulls veto power in trade for Orioles' Ponson

SAN DIEGO -- Padres slugger Phil Nevin has until Tuesday night to decide whether to accept a proposed trade to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Sidney Ponson.

Nevin flew home from Philadelphia with the NL West-leading Padres after they lost their seventh straight game, and planned to spend today's off day discussing the deal with his family.

Nevin has the right to block a trade to eight teams, including the Orioles.

Nevin didn't play in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Phillies, as the Padres fell to 0-6 on an East Coast road trip and to just one game over .500.

"I have a certain amount of time to make a decision and I'm going to use that time," Nevin said afterward. "I want to talk about it with my family and kids. It's a tough thing to talk to them about over the phone."

In December 2002, Nevin blocked a deal that would have sent him to the Reds for Ken Griffey Jr.

"I personally am surprised that he didn't reject it as quickly as he rejected the Cincinnati deal, that he's actually not said 'No,"' said Nevin's agent, Barry Axelrod.

Tuesday's deadline will be an hour before the first pitch of the Padres' next game, against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park.

"He's very emotional right now," Axelrod said. "It's very hard on him. He sat through the game and was then going to fly home on the team plane feeling like he's not a part of it anymore. Basically, he's looking forward to having a day away from it and spending it with his family. He's faced with explaining this to his 8-year-old son, who's a huge fan and loves being at the ballpark. It's tough duty."

Padres general manager Kevin Towers confirmed the Orioles were given permission by the commissioner's office to speak with Axelrod, and a 72-hour window began Saturday night. Axelrod said he spoke briefly Saturday night with Jim Beattie, Baltimore's executive vice president, and again at length on Sunday.

Nevin is the highest-paid Padres player, with a salary this year of $9 million. He's due $10 million next season, and a deferred $2 million signing bonus in 2007.

Axelrod said there are several factors working against Nevin accepting the deal.

Nevin is a native of Southern California and he and his wife are building a new house. And then there's the no-trade stipulations that were included in the $34 million contract extension Axelrod secured in November 2001 after Nevin had a career year.

While Nevin has angered Padres officials with his volatile temper, Ponson (7-9, 5.91 ERA) has had some off-field trouble himself.

He spent 11 days in an Aruban jail after he punched a judge in a Christmas Day brawl, and was arrested in Florida less than a month later for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Wood may head for DL

Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker said injured pitcher Kerry Wood, who will skip his next scheduled start on Monday due to a shoulder injury, might have to go back on the 15-day disabled list.

"Yeah, it's a possibility," Baker said Sunday night before the Cubs played the Cardinals. "They said he was better today than yesterday, but still not quite ready."

Wood, 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 10 starts, had a cortisone shot on Thursday after lasting only three innings and giving up three homers in a 9-3 loss at Cincinnati on Wednesday. The shoulder has bothered Wood all season, already forcing him to the disabled list once.

Left-hander Rich Hill, who began the season at the Double-A level, will take Wood's place Monday at home against the Giants.

-- From wire reports