Castro, Pena Sent to Albuquerque

Most Dodgers will return home to Los Angeles on Wednesday.

But not all.

With the regular-season opener a week away, General Manager Kevin Malone trimmed the roster Monday by optioning infielder Juan Castro and catcher Angel Pena to the triple-A Albuquerque Dukes.

Relief pitcher Antonio Osuna, who has a sore elbow, and infielder Alex Cora, who has a broken right wrist, were put on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Thursday.

Infielder Scott Livingstone and left-hander Chris Haney, nonroster players, were reassigned to the team’s minor-league camp.

Right-hander Doug Bochtler chose to leave the club and become a free agent.

Osuna, recovering from off-season elbow surgery, has been throwing at 95% effectiveness and is expected to be ready when he is eligible to return at the end of the first week of the regular season.

Of those leaving, the 24-year-old Pena drew the most praise.

“He’s capable of being another Charles Johnson,” Malone said, comparing Pena to the former Dodger who was considered the game’s best defensive catcher two years ago. “He’s been very impressive. He can catch and he can throw. But right now, he needs to get at-bats.”

Pena made the most of his at-bats last year with San Antonio in his first season of double-A ball, hitting .335 with 22 home runs and 105 runs batted in.

“I don’t want him sitting and not catching,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “If my catcher [Todd Hundley] is not catching half the time, we will reevaluate. But I’m not going to bring [Pena] up to catch three days a week. He needs to catch five days a week.”

The demotion of Castro, using his last option, means that Tripp Cromer will get a spot as a reserve infielder.

“Tripp is definitely in position to make this club,” Malone said. “He just has to stay healthy.”

The roster is down to 28, and there are five nonroster invitees. The roster must be at 25 opening day.

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The Dodgers lost to the Montreal Expos, 4-3, in 10 innings at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. . . . Dodger starter Carlos Perez left after five innings because of a stiff neck, but he said he doesn’t expect to miss a turn.