Numbers Say Padres’ Nevin Is a Real Steal

Phil Nevin put another exclamation mark on his remarkable rebirth with a torrid August that should earn him the National League’s player-of-the-month award and enhance his status as one of baseball’s best bargains.

The San Diego Padre third baseman capped his August onslaught by driving in 12 runs in a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs, finishing the month with a .394 average, nine doubles, nine home runs and 29 runs batted in.

He started a weekend series against Pittsburgh with a .309 average for the season and career highs of 30 homers and 104 RBIs. He had also reached base by hit or walk in 49 consecutive games before Wednesday.

“Without Nevin, I’d hate to think where we’d be--not that we’re anywhere,” Manager Bruce Bochy said.

“Without him, we’d be even further in last place [in the National League West].”

Acquired by the Padres from the Angels for utility infielder Andy Sheets in the spring of 1999 as a backup catcher and utility man, Nevin has driven in 151 runs and hit 42 homers in 188 games since talking his way into a third-base shot last Aug. 1.

His breakthrough second half last year was rewarded with a three-year, $4.85-million contract that is among the major leagues’ lowest for a third baseman and a bargain, given his production.

Of course, Nevin put a high value on security in light of several frustrating years of unfulfilled promise with the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and Angels as he moved from position to position while coming to grips with his temper and priorities.

“The Padres gave me a chance to play every day,” he said. “It means a lot to me to wear this uniform. I didn’t want to price myself out of the game, and I didn’t want to price myself out of San Diego.”

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Having lopped Denny Neagle off his payroll while the Cincinnati Reds were still in playoff contention, it was inevitable that General Manager Jim Bowden would try to cut more, now that the Reds are dead.

He did that by sending Dante Bichette to Boston for two young pitchers, saving about $700,000 this year and $6.5 million next.

Bowden said he would use the savings to pick up pitcher Pete Harnisch’s $3.75-million option and help sign the arbitration-eligible Sean Casey, Danny Graves, Pokey Reese and Dmitri Young.

In the meantime, he said, the Reds have internal replacements for Bichette with Michael Tucker, Alex Ochoa and Brian Hunter, although he had another, Jeffrey Hammonds, before trading the player who is now the league’s second-leading hitter to Colorado for Bichette last winter.

Although Bichette hit .295 with 16 homers and 76 RBIs, he was unable to duplicate his Coors Field production. He had also made eight errors as an unsteady right fielder and will be used primarily as a designated hitter by the Red Sox, who have also acquired Mike Lansing, Rico Brogna, Bernard Gilkey, Sean Berry and Ed Sprague since the start of the season, trying to rouse an offense that ranks 12th in the American League in runs scored.

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It has been a rare season, considering the absence of even one managerial firing, but there could be an NL upheaval after the season with Davey Johnson, Gene Lamont, Terry Francona, Felipe Alou, Jack McKeon, Larry Dierker and Buck Showalter all in jeopardy.

However, after a recent meeting with co-owner Fred Wilpon, Bobby Valentine now appears set to return to the New York Mets, eliminating a Dodger possibility if Johnson is fired.