Roadhouse Blues: Bronson Arroyo Traded

During this winter Bronson Arroyo was one of the only players to really express his love for Boston, and the Red Sox, and now he's out. Today the Boston Red Sox traded Arroyo for the power hitting strikeout artist Wily Mo Pena. I'm not thrilled with this trade at all. Arroyo has been a solid 4 or 5 starter for the Sox and would have been a valuable asset out of the bullpen for long-relief this year. When you have starting staff who aren't too young (Schilling 40, Wakefield 40, & Wells 43) you figured it'd be good to keep this proven younger pitcher (Arroyo 29) around, I guess not though.

I look at this as a sign that:

A) Matt Clement's not going anywhere.
B) David Wells is most likely going to be in a Red Sox uniform this entire season (great...)
C) The Sox front office has a lot of confidence in our younger core of pitchers in our system.
D) Papelbon is most likely going to be a LRP to start the season.
E) And lastly, if one of the said older pitchers above gets injured this year (along with Becket's history) our MLB level depth is greatly thinned out.

Wily Mo Pena is basically the anti-Red Sox as far as hitting strategy goes. His splits in 99 games with the Reds last year look like this: .254/.303/.492 - 19 HR's, 51 RBI, 20 BB, and 116 K's.

Wily will most likely split time with Trot in RF where he'll face the majority of LHP. His stats against lefties are far better with far fewer K's then against RHP. Who knows, maybe with another year and the tutelage of Papa Jack, Manny, Ortiz, et al. this young slugger could turn it around. Still, I'm very hesitant on this, and am curious how much Pena will take to part-time status, he could pull a Jay Payton on us.

I'm going to miss Bronson a lot. He was a guy who embraced this city and team. He wasn't the most talented pitcher by any means, but more often then not he got the job done. He pitched in some of the most memorable games in recent Red Sox history (a lot involving slAp-Rod), and his ability to pitch inside without fear was a valuable asset. I wish him luck, and pray Wily Mo becomes some sort of a genius move. I have my reservations though...

To Read how Reds fans are reacting in the blog-o-sphere check out The Red Reporter, a great baseball blog worthy of a daily click.

Comments

[Marci]

Spinning in their graves:
Being a Reds fan, you know, from around there and all, I'm on both the Red Sox and the Red notes mailing lists:
From the Reds:The Cincinnati Reds today acquired RHP Bronson Arroyo and cash from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for OF Wily Mo Pena.

Arroyo, 29, went 14-10 with a 4.51 ERA in 35 games (32 starts) for the Red Sox last season. He established career highs in wins (14), starts (32) and innings pitched (205.1) while producing a team-high 20 quality starts.

Arroyo has appeared in the postseason in each of the last three seasons, including as a member of the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox.
Meaning: Squeee!!!!!!!!!!111!!! wE Got Bronson Arroyo!
From the Red Sox:
The Red Sox have acquired 24-year-old outfielder Wily Mo Pena from the Reds in exchange for righty Bronson Arroyo and cash. The right-handed-hitting Pena slugged .492 and batted .254 with 19 home runs and 51 RBIs in 90 games with Cincinnati last season.

Pena gives the Sox some right-handed pop in the lineup. The Red Sox could afford to deal Arroyo because they still have Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Matt Clement, David Wells and Tim Wakefield to anchor the rotation.
Meaning: Look, we know you're all pissed, but it's not as bad as you think. Really. Honest.

And yet, it sorta is. The team doesn't need another 4th outfielder. Is this theory that Kapler isn't coming back? Maybe that might justify this, but honestly, if the goal is platoon Nixon, why keep Nixon. I know, heretical, but the Red Sox seem like they're trying to simulataneously build two teams, each playing half time. I'm all for depth, but this off-season has been wacky with positions being filled that aren't vacant and the accumulation of a lot of fielding talent that doesn't bring anything offensively to the table.

[Derek Hixon]

First off, this had to be a fun trade for you!

I also understand what you're saying about the Sox building two teams. It seems like this is a trade that may not make RSN go crazy right away. It seems more like the trade with the potential to make RSN go crazy in a year or two. We'll see.

I think they're sticking to their guns by trying to keep both focus on the present and the future. On paper they have a good team, but the games still have to be played.

I think Arroyo's going to stud out with the Reds.

A) He'll not be pitching to the sluggers of the AL East.

B) He'll be in the NL.

I hope he has a kick ass year for ya :)