Dodgers to Have Doctor Look at Pena’s Sore Shoulder

Dodger pitcher Alejandro Pena, whose shoulder problems last season not only mystified Dodger officials but limited him to one start in September, will undergo an arthrogram Tuesday.

The Dodgers also announced Friday that first baseman Greg Brock, who was scheduled for an arbitration hearing next Wednesday, agreed to a one-year contract for about $150,000. Brock, who hit .225 with 14 home runs and 34 runs batted in last season, had been seeking $175,000. The Dodgers had offered $125,000.

Dodger officials said the diagnostic procedure for Pena, to be performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, is precautionary and will not prevent Pena from reporting to training camp Thursday with the rest of the Dodger pitchers. But the arthrogram, which involves an injection of dye for the purpose of X-rays, represents an admission by the Dodgers that Pena’s complaints about soreness in the shoulder have persisted.

As late as Friday morning, Dodger Vice President Al Campanis was saying that Pena was OK.

“He’s fine,” Campanis said. “I just talked to him yesterday (Thursday) and he’s fine. The doctor examined him and there’s no indication (of a problem).

“I said (to him), ‘The doctor said in July that your arm was fine and this and that. He said, ‘Hey, Chief, I’ll be ready when the bell rings.’ ”

Pena’s problems also may muddle plans by Campanis to trade a starting pitcher for a third baseman or power-hitting outfielder. Of the six starters on the Dodger staff, Pena--last season’s National League earned-run average champion--and Bob Welch figure as the leading candidates to be traded.

Another Dodger pitcher, reliever Carlos Diaz, lost his arbitration case, it was announced Friday. But in a striking display of today’s economic realities in baseball, Diaz received a $30,000 raise to $120,000. Last season, he had a 1-0 record, a 5.49 ERA, one save and a midseason demotion to Albuquerque. Diaz had been seeking $170,000.