Acquired: Signed as a free agent Feb. 9, 2004; re-signed Jan. 18, 2005.

Personal: Lives in Edgewater, N.J., with wife, Brooke. Has two children, daughter Megan (9) and son Ron (7). Played football and baseball at UMass. Villone was a first-round draft choice of the Mariners in 1992, then traded to San Diego during the 1995 season.

2005 outlook: Villone will start the year in long relief, but he's capable of starting if there are any problems in the rotation. Villone made 10 starts last season, although his numbers were better as a reliever — 2.95 ERA in 46 relief appearances compared with 5.43 as a starter.