Pena Puts On a Perfect 3-Inning Show for Scouts in 5-1 Victory by Dodgers

Alejandro Pena, pitching before scouts from several teams, retired all nine batters he faced in the Dodgers’ 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers here Tuesday.

Al Campanis, Dodger vice president, said he expects serious trade talks to begin soon in the wake of Pena’s impressive showing. The Dodgers are seeking a center fielder and Campanis has said that he has talked to the Cleveland Indians about Brett Butler. The Philadelphia Phillies, who also have shown interest, scouted Pena on Tuesday.

The Indians, who need starting pitchers, have scouted Pena all spring and reportedly are very interested. But Campanis says the Indians are not the only team that has contacted him about Pena, whose fastball reached 90 m.p.h. Tuesday.

“It’s still too early for people to make a deal, unless you’ve already talked extensively about names,” Campanis said. “We haven’t done that yet with any team. You know what they are interested in, but it hasn’t reached a stage where (proposals) are made. We aren’t going to make a deal tonight, say, but I know we’ll be talking.”

Pena is pitching so well that it was suggested he is looking too good to trade. “I don’t see why not,” Campanis said, when asked if Pena might stay. “Maybe we’ll trade pitcher B or pitcher C and keep pitcher A.”