San Diego ? The slumping San Diego Padres acquired third baseman Joe Randa from Cincinnati for two minor-league pitchers Saturday and demoted struggling Sean Burroughs to Triple-A.

The Padres acquired Randa for minor-league right-handers Justin Germano and Travis Chick.

“It’s been pretty apparent that something was going to happen,” Randa said. “I’m relieved. This has been hanging over my head. You wonder when it’s going to happen and where you’re going.”

Randa is hitting .289 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs.

“When I called him, he was great,” Cincinnati general manager Dan O’Brien said. “He said he appreciated it. He said, ‘It’s a great city, a great park, and they’re in first place. They have a chance to make the playoffs, and I’ve never been in the playoffs.’ That was an easy call for both sides.”

To replace Randa, who previously played for Kansas City, the Reds called up third-base prospect Edwin Encarnacion from Triple-A Louisville.

The Padres also purchased the contract of left-hander Craig Breslow from Double-A Mobile.

The Padres also were discussing 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. The Orioles are one of eight teams Nevin can block a trade to.

“The Padres have not even asked our approval yet,” agent Barry Axelrod told the Associated Press. “If they were to ask for our approval, for Phil to even consider it, I’m sure there would have to be some discussion. He and/or I would want to talk with the Orioles and find out what his role would be there.”

Nevin went 1-for-3 with a walk during a 2-0 loss Saturday in Philadelphia. San Diego’s sixth straight loss cut its lead in the weak NL West to three games over Arizona.

Ponson started Saturday night for the Orioles against Tampa Bay.

“Obviously, it’s not going to happen without our approval,” Axelrod said. “So, obviously, it’s not close to being done.”

General manager Kevin Towers also said the Padres had yet to seek Nevin’s approval.

The Padres have wanted to trade Nevin for some time, because of his big salary and volatile temper. But they’ve come up against his no-trade provisions.