BASEBALL

RED SOX TRADE ARROYO TO CINCINNATI FOR PENA The Boston Red Sox traded pitcher Bronson Arroyo yesterday 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 January 19.

Pena, who can’t be a free agent until after the 2008 season, batted .254 with 19 homers and 51 RBI last season and struck out 116 times with 20 walks. A 24-year-old right-handed hitter, he could play right field in place of lefty Trot Nixon when lefthanders 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 had career highs last year with 14 wins, 32 starts, and 205 1/3 innings. In the past four seasons, Pena batted .248 with 51 homers and 134 RBI with the Reds.

SORIANO REFUSES TO TAKE FIELD FOR NATIONALS Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut last night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest off-season 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. Soriano, a four-time All-Star second baseman, made it clear when he was acquired in an off-season trade with the Texas Rangers that he did not want to play the outfield. But the Nationals already have an All-Star second baseman in Jose Vidro.

“We told him if we get to Thursday, and he refuses to play left field, we told him at that point we will request that the commissioner’s office place him on the disqualified list, at that time – no pay, no service time,” Bowden said.

FOOTBALL

LIONS PART WAYS WITH HARRINGTON The Detroit Lions parted ways with Joey Harrington yesterday after four turbulent seasons during which the quarterback went from franchise savior to franchise goat. Coach Rod Marinelli declined to say whether Harrington was released.

Harrington, drafted no. 3 overall in 2002, was 18-37 as a starter with the Lions. He started 55 games, throwing for 10,242 yards with 60 touchdowns and 62 interceptions and a mediocre 68.1 passer rating. He will be replaced by Jon Kitna or Josh McCown, both former starters who agreed to terms in the last week. The decision to change course comes nearly four years after the Lions proclaimed that Harrington would bring the franchise long-term stability at quarterback. The Lions have won only a single playoff game since 1957 and have posted a league-worst 21-59 record since 2001.

ALLEN SIGNS WITH DOLPHINS Cornerback Will Allen signed a $12 million, four-year contract with the Miami Dolphins yesterday after spending the last five seasons with the Giants. Allen is expected to replace Sam Madison, a longtime Miami starter whom the Giants signed as a free agent this month. Allen started 71 of the 72 games he played with the Giants, who drafted him in the first round in 2001. He had eight interceptions with the Giants.

TENNIS

MAURESMO RETAINS TOP RANKING Amelie Mauresmo took over the no. 1 spot in the WTA rankings from Kim Clijsters yesterday. Mauresmo and Clijsters missed last week’s Pacific Life Open, which Maria Sharapova won. Clijsters won at Indian Wells last year, but the Belgian has been injured and fell to no. 2 in the rankings after losing her points from that win. Justine Henin-Hardenne is third in the rankings, followed by Sharapova and Lindsay Davenport. Mary Pierce, Nadia Petrova, Elena Dementieva, Patty Schnyder, and Venus Williams round out the top 10.

– Associated Press