Red Sox trade Arroyo to Cincinnati

The Boston Red Sox traded pitcher Bronson Arroyo on Monday to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Wily Mo Pena.

Arroyo was 14-10 with a 4.51 ERA last season. The right-hander was part of a deep group of Red Sox starters and had taken a home-team discount when he signed a three-year contract worth $11.25 million on Jan. 19.

Pena, who can't be a free agent until after the 2008 season, batted .254 with 19 homers and 51 RBIs last season and struck out 116 times with 20 walks. A 24-year-old right-handed hitter, he could play right field instead of lefty Trot Nixon when left-handers pitch against Boston.

Without the 29-year-old Arroyo, Boston still has Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, Matt Clement, David Wells and Jon Papelbon as starters. Arroyo, who pitched five shutout innings Sunday after struggling in his first three exhibition appearances, was expected to start the season in the Boston's bullpen.

"They have a surplus of seven starting pitchers in their mind and I agree," Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said. "They needed a right-handed bat to complement Trot Nixon. It all fell into place rather quickly. (Boston general manager) Theo Epstein and I have been talking about this for three or four days."

Arroyo had career highs last year with 14 wins, 32 starts and 205 1-3 innings pitched.

"Because we have depth, we might not have been able to get enough out of him" this season, Boston manager Terry Francona said, "and that's not a knock on him."

In the past four seasons, Pena batted .248 with 51 homers and 134 RBIs with the Reds.

Pena played for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and had four singles in 10 at-bats in three games.

"He's 24 years old. He's just a baby," said Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, who played with Pena on the Dominican team. "You know this game. It's a learning process."

Pena said he was surprised by the deal. He is still considered a raw talent but has outstanding power.

SORIANO REFUSES TO PLAY OUTFIELD: Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition will go on the disqualified list if he doesn't agree to switch positions this week. "The player refused to take the field, which we believe is a violation of his contract," Bowden said.