The Chicago White Sox have acquired right-handed pitcher Tony Pena from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for minor-league infielder Brandon Allen. Pena, 27, is 5-3 with a 4.24 ERA (16 ER/34.0 IP) and one save in 37 relief appearances with the Diamondbacks in 2009. He leads the club with eight holds and ranks second in games pitched. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder is 16-13 with a 4.08 ERA (101 ER/222.2 IP), seven saves and 63 holds in 209 career relief outings with Arizona (2006-09). He has limited right-handers to a .224 (100-447) lifetime average and ranks fourth among all major-league relievers since 2007 with 61 holds. Pena’s best season came in 2007 when he went 5-4 with a 3.27 ERA (31 ER/85.1 IP), two saves and 30 holds in 75 appearances. He limited the opposition to just 63 hits and a .207 average in his second major-league season.
whitesox.com adds that:
Pena likely will be used as insurance behind White Sox relievers Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink, giving the team another late-inning right-hander.
MLBTR points us to Pena’s .352 BABIP for this year.
