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The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox have acquired Wily Mo Pena from the Reds for Bronson Arroyo.

Suddenly Pena isn't quite such a great value pick for 2006. He still has tons of potential, but where his at-bats will come from in Boston is unclear unless the Red Sox make another move. At the very least he will platoon with Trot Nixon in right field and spell Coco Crisp, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. Source: Boston Globe Mar. 20 - 11:36

Good news for Freel/Womack/Aurillia owners as well. But this trade hurts a few of my teams with Trot. Any word of Trot or Pena moving to 1B?

So much for the "Home Town Discount" Bronson took to stay in Boston.

IMO Freel, Aurelia & Womack will not benefit as much as Hatteburg. Dunn will play LF.



Trying to figure out how Pena fits in with Boston is the tougher call. Ortiz to 1B?

Ortiz will stay at DH most of the time. Pena will platoon with Trot, who is a free agent next year. Pena should have RF all to himself next year.



Ortiz may play some 1B now against RHPs so both Nixon and Pena will also be in the lineup, but I doubt this happens much.

So unless Nixon's knee acts up, Pena will get his usual 300-350 AB's. At 1 HR per 14, that's about 22-25 HR's this season. Not bad for my 16th round pick.

My initial impression of this deal is that it will also hurt Arroyo's value. But, moving from the AL East to the NL Central may mitigate some of the fallout. He also will probably not have to worry about his status in the rotation.



[ March 20, 2006, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: msamuels ]

Originally posted by SoxFan:

Ortiz will stay at DH most of the time. Pena will platoon with Trot, who is a free agent next year. Pena should have RF all to himself next year.

Maybe there'll be no next year. There wasn't one this year.