Nixon steps aside after straining his side

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A discouraged Trot Nixon went on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with a strained oblique muscle in his left side, though the ''15-day" component figures to be a mere baseline in this discussion.

''The doctor will tell," said Nixon on how much time he expects to miss. ''Hopefully he says it's like any normal strain. Maybe two weeks, three weeks, which is still a long time for me."

Nixon, who underwent an MRI here yesterday morning, was scheduled to see team medical director Thomas Gill last night upon arriving in Boston.

The MRI, according to manager Terry Francona, showed that ''there is some fluid in there, which means there's some damage done."

Francona also acknowledged how delicate muscle strains of this type are and how easily they can be aggravated. For Nixon, picking up a bat isn't close to an option.

''If I try to swing," Nixon said, ''I'll go down on my knees."

The Sox started rookie Adam Stern in right field yesterday. Kevin Millar probably would have played the position but he was in left field, spelling Manny Ramirez, who asked for the day off. The Sox' only spare outfielders are Stern and journeyman Adam Hyzdu.

Gabe Kapler, playing his way back into shape -- he was 4 for 4 with a homer and a triple at Triple A Pawtucket last night -- is eligible to come off the DL Saturday and is expected to join the team that day.

But with the trading deadline Sunday and the Sox in need of a lefthanded-hitting outfielder, the club's shopping list probably grew the moment Nixon painfully swung and missed at a Mark Hendrickson fastball Tuesday night.

Lefthanded-hitting outfielders that could be available include Arizona's Jose Cruz, Baltimore's Larry Bigbie, Kansas City's Terrence Long, Minnesota's Jacque Jones, Tampa Bay's Aubrey Huff, Pittsburgh's Matt Lawton, and the Dodgers' Ricky Ledee. However, it's unlikely Baltimore would deal Bigbie within the division. The Red Sox, furthermore, have little interest in parting with a top prospect or assuming a significant salary.

Cruz is a possibility because he was designated for assignment yesterday. He hit just .213 in 64 games with Arizona but compiled a .347 on-base percentage and hit 12 home runs while knocking in 28.

It's also possible the Sox could promote Triple A first baseman Roberto Petagine. The 34-year-old went into last night hitting .336 with 18 homers and 62 RBIs, and has crushed righthanded pitching (.358, 15 HRs, 47 RBIs). Petagine, though, has a history of knee troubles and is not an option in the outfield.

Nixon, limited to 48 games last season with back and quadriceps injuries, was batting .293 with 11 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a .372 on-base percentage.

''It seems like 2003 I was hurt, came back, last year was hurt, came back, I really wanted to play a full season this year and not be out," Nixon said. ''I've got to be smart about this because it's pretty tricky."

Nixon said he's been told the muscle ''can feel better, you want to go out there, and all of a sudden you realize it's still bothering you."

Hearing problem

No date has been set but David Wells's appeal of his six-game suspension will be heard the week of Aug. 8-12, according to the burly lefthander. Wells vehemently disagrees that he bumped umpires Chris Guccione and Angel Hernandez during a July 2 game at Fenway Park, a contention made by Major League Baseball when announcing his punishment.

Wells continues to fume because he's convinced MLB has it out for him. In his mind, the most damning evidence is the fact he learned of his suspension hours before his July 15 start vs. the Yankees.

Wells figures to miss a start at some point, and if so, it will be costly. His contract calls for a $200,000 bonus for each start between Nos. 11 and 20 and a $300,000 bonus for starts 21-30. He's made 18 starts and is on pace for 29, so a suspension, in all likelihood, would leave him $300,000 lighter.

Wells might have been pushed to give up his appeal and sit down this weekend -- with off days today and Monday -- but he's now needed, with Matt Clement's short-term status uncertain.

''It's interesting how things can change in a hurry," Francona said.

Timlin gets rest

Mike Timlin was unavailable to pitch Tuesday and again yesterday, but he is not hurt, Francona contended. ''The reason behind it is we feel a responsibility come September, hopefully October, to have this guy be productive like he was," Francona said. ''I think it's in his best interest to have three days [of rest]. It's not an injury. I'm looking at production. Maybe I'm being overprotective. I think there's points in a season where you have to be." Francona added that he doesn't believe Timlin's effectiveness has waned, and the numbers support that claim. The 39-year-old hasn't allowed an earned run in his last nine appearances, further streamlining his ERA to 1.44. He did allow an inherited runner to score in the seventh inning Monday to force the game into extra innings, when the Sox lost, 4-3 . . . While third baseman Bill Mueller braces for the possibility this weekend that he will be walking across the field from the Sox'clubhouse to the visitors' clubhouse, talks were ''stalled" yesterday on a potential deal that would send Mueller to the Twins for lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero, according to a source close to the negotiations. Various permutations of that deal have been discussed, including a wider scenario in which Millar would also be dealt to the punchless Twins, with pitcher Kyle Lohse coming to Boston. But the Twins supposedly refused to include Lohse in the deal. Another starting pitcher, Joe Mays, also has been proposed. The deal may go down to Sunday's deadline . . . The Sox miss Cy Young winner Johan Santana when the Twins come to town. This weekend's probable matchups: Wade Miller (3-4, 4.57 ERA) vs. Carlos Silva (7-4, 3.38) tomorrow, Bronson Arroyo (8-6, 4.26) vs. Lohse (7-9, 4.45) Saturday, and Wells (8-5, 4.57) vs. Brad Radke (6-10, 3.88) Sunday . . . Tim Wakefield improved to 6-0 with three saves all time at Tropicana Field. He's 12-1 in his career against Tampa Bay . . . The Sox summoned Triple A lefthander Lenny DiNardo to occupy Nixon's roster spot, marking DiNardo's third recall of the season.