Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Reds have strengthened their bullpen by picking up Royals closer Jonathan Broxton, the former Dodgers stalwart.
Broxton has had a nice rebound year for the Royals after an injury-laden 2011 season, but the the 28-year old isn't the same pitcher he was early on with the Dodgers. Broxton has a career low 6.31 strikeout rate (even lower than last year's 7.11 mark), and he's walking 3.53 batters per nine, right around his career mark. Broxton's velocity, averaging 95 mph, is still damn good, but a far cry from the 96 to 97 mph he was hurling in 2008 and 2009 with the Dodgers, when he was one of the best relievers in the game.
With Aroldis Chapman and Sean Marshall already taking souls in their bullpen, adding Broxton to the pen makes Cincinnati that much better. Even though Broxton isn't the same pitcher he was in the past, he's still pretty damn good, and a very hard thrower. There's nothing wrong with that at all.
No word yet on the return for Broxton, but we'll keep you posted.
UPDATE: The price for Broxton is AA reliever JC Sulbaran, who ranked as the Reds' 12th best prospect coming into the year. The 22-year old has 111 strikeouts and 54 walks in 104 2/3 innings for Pensacola. His command is an issue, but Sulbaran has fantastic stuff.
UPDATE TWO: Donnie Joseph is also in the deal. He was the Reds' 27th ranked prospect coming into the year, but has come into his own this year for AA Pensacola and AAA Louisville. Over the two levels, the 24-year old Joseph has thrown 52 1/3 relief innings, striking out 68 and walking 17.
