Sports briefs 3/21/06

Baseball

• The Boston Red Sox traded pitcher Bronson Arroyo to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Wily Mo Pena on Monday in a swap of talented young players that could fill a major need for each team.

Arroyo was headed to the bullpen because of Boston's deep rotation, but the right-hander now figures to help Cincinnati's mediocre starting staff. Pena struck out in 37 percent of his at-bats last season, but Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein thinks that number could drop.

The 24-year-old Pena had more strikeouts at the plate last season (116) than Arroyo did on the mound (100). But Pena also hit 19 homers in 311 at-bats.

Arroyo can pitch a lot of innings and, if necessary, move to the bullpen. Last year he was 14-10 with a 4.51 ERA in a career-high 205 1-3 innings.

* Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason 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, an All-Star second baseman, was listed as batting leadoff and playing left field on a lineup sheet posted in the Nationals' clubhouse before Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Nationals already have an All-Star second baseman in Jose Vidro, so they told Soriano they want him to move to the outfield, and he indicated he doesn't want to do that. But Monday provided his most concrete -- and visible -- objection.

Basketball

• Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal was fined $5,000 by the NBA on Monday for a flagrant foul against Chicago's Andres Nocioni.

O'Neal's foul in the second quarter of the Heat's 85-82 win over the Bulls on Saturday originally was ruled a flagrant foul penalty one, but was upgraded to a flagrant foul penalty two by Stu Jackson, the NBA's vice president of basketball operations.

Colleges

• Nathan Bilyeu converted a three-point play with 2.3 seconds left to lead Missouri State to a 60-59 win over Houston in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament on Monday night.

Missouri State (22-8) plays at Louisville on Wednesday night with the winner advancing to the tournament semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Houston's Lanny Smith, who finished with 21 points, scored with 11.5 seconds left to give the Cougars a 59-57 lead.

Missouri State's Deke Thompson drove to the basket on the other end and missed but Bilyeu converted the putback and was fouled. He made the foul shot to give the Bears the lead.

-- From wire reports