Nevin Is Ticketed for the Rangers

The Texas Rangers plan to trade pitcher Chan Ho Park to the San Diego Padres for slugger Phil Nevin, a deal that awaited approval from the commissioner’s office.

“If the league OKs it, then it’s a done deal,” Padre Manager Bruce Bochy said Friday before his team played the Cincinnati Reds. “Obviously, we’ve talked to Texas. There’s nothing official yet. Nev’s aware of it. Chan Ho’s aware of it.”

Ranger spokesman Gregg Elkin also said the trade was pending approval from the commissioner’s office.

The deal came two days before Sunday’s deadline for making trades without passing players through waivers. Approval was needed because it involves the Rangers’ sending cash to San Diego to help offset the money remaining on the $65-million, five-year contract Park signed with Texas before the 2002 season.

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Frank Thomas is likely to be sidelined the rest of the season for the Chicago White Sox because of a fracture in his left foot close to where he had surgery last year, his doctor said.

The injury didn’t appear to be career-ending, surgeon Richard Ferkel said.

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The Baltimore Orioles acquired Eric Byrnes from the Colorado Rockies for Larry Bigbie in an exchange of outfielders. Byrnes was traded to Colorado from Oakland on July 14.... Catcher Pat Borders, 42, was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners.... Michael Wilhite, a second baseman for the Bend (Ore.) Elks of the West Coast Collegiate League and the brother of Matt Wilhite, a pitcher with the Angels’ Arkansas affiliate in the double-A Texas League, drowned Thursday while floating on the Deschutes River with friends. Wilhite would have turned 21 on Friday.