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Pena’s farewell likely fallout of roster moves

Although the major league debut of Clay Buchholz is garnering the headlines, the pitcher isn’t the only member of the Pawtucket Red Sox heading to Boston. Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury should be added to the roster today, likely for the second game of a day-night doubleheader against the Angels.

Though Ellsbury’s stay is not expected to be lengthy — righthanded outfielder Bobby Kielty remains in Triple A — he has earned more time with the Red Sox, given his hitting of late. Since coming off the disabled list (injured groin) Aug. 5, the lefthanded-hitting Ellsbury has gone 21 for 51 (.412) with a 12-game hitting streak. The Red Sox will face righthanded starters the next three games against the Angels.

To free up the roster spot for Buchholz (and then for Ellsbury, when Buchholz is sent back to the PawSox after the first game), the most likely scenario is a change of scenery for Wily Mo Peña, who is expected to be traded or designated for assignment today.

Peña, who came from Cincinnati in a trade for Bronson Arroyo before last season, hardly panned out the way the front office expected. After hitting .301 in 276 at-bats, with 11 home runs, in 2006, Peña is 34 for 156 (.218) this season. He has hit five home runs despite his prodigious power. Peña has had trouble hitting offspeed pitches and playing defense.

If Peña is designated for assignment, the Red Sox will have 10 days to trade him, release him, or send him to the minors. They can only send Peña to the minors if he accepts the assignment, as Joel Piñeiro did earlier this season before he was traded to the Cardinals.
It appears there will be more machinations.

With Curt Schilling bumped from today to pitch tomorrow for an extra day’s rest, Sunday would be Tim Wakefield’s turn. But TBA is listed on the pitching probables. That might mean Julian Tavarez will get a spot start.

Bumping Wakefield would put him in line to start against the Devil Rays at Tropicana Field, where he has never lost. He has a 2.33 career ERA there.

Signed and sealed
With the deadline for signing draft picks at midnight last night, the Red Sox agreed in principle with fifth-round pick Will Middlebrooks, a righthanded pitcher and third baseman; sixth-round pick Anthony Rizzo, a first baseman; seventh-round pick David Mailman, a first baseman; 16th-round pick Austin Bailey, a righthanded pitcher; 17th-round pick Jaren Matthews, a first baseman; and 23d-round pick Drake Britton, a lefthanded pitcher. The Red Sox signed all but one of their draft picks from the top 12 rounds. Third baseman Hunter Morris, their third-round choice, chose to go to Auburn. The Sox’ top draft choice at catcher, Yasmani Grandal, a 27th-round pick, decided to attend the University of Miami ... The Sox also signed an amateur player from Europe, Jennel Hudson, from the Cologne Cardinals and the Major League Baseball European Academy in Italy. Hudson, 17, becomes the first European to sign under the current ownership group. The 6-foot-5-inch righthanded pitcher will participate in the instructional league in the fall.

Downward slide
David Ortiz has hit .267 with a .382 on-base percentage and a .453 slugging percentage in 19 games since he injured his left shoulder sliding into second base. The numbers overall? Ortiz has a .311 batting average, .424 OBP, and .543 slugging percentage. Since he received a cortisone shot in the shoulder in Anaheim, Calif., Ortiz is hitting .174, with a .296 OBP and a .261 slugging percentage ... With the minor league seasons winding down, time is short for a potential rehab appearance for Matt Clement, who is working out at Fort Myers, Fla. ‘‘It’s almost like when you are thinking about becoming a good team. Getting over that last hurdle of being good is hard,’’ manager Terry Francona said Wednesday. ‘‘It gets to the point where you think you’re closer to getting back to pitching and then ... the steps get smaller, which I think is practical and not uncommon. But his spirits are real good. He’s big into the fantasy football draft. He always runs it for us, so he wanted to get some input on that.’’ ... Tony Conigliaro will be remembered at Fenway Park tomorrow, 40 years after he was hit in the left eye by Angels pitcher Jack Hamilton. There will be an on-field ceremony and video tribute before the game ... John Lackey and Erwin Santana will be the Angels’ starters today.