Reds Beef Up Strong Bullpen With Broxton
The Cincinnati Reds acquired right-handed relief pitcher Jonathan Broxton from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor-league pitchers Donnie Joseph (LHP) and J.C. Sulbaran (RHP). Broxton signed a one-year deal with the Royals for $5.6 million and has been the Royals closer. He will be a free agent at the end of this season.
Joseph has pitched in relief for the Reds’ Double-A and Triple-A teams this season. Subaran has been a starter for the Reds’ Double-A squad.
The Reds’ acquisition of Broxton was a bit surprising, given the strength of Cincinnati’s bullpen this season. As we profiled last week, Aroldis Chapman has been lights out as the Reds’ closer, posting record-breaking strikeout numbers with his 100 mph fastball and his nasty slider. But Chapman’s not the only Reds reliever having a strong season. Overall, the bullpen has posted a 10.23 K/9, a .79 HR/9, and a .216 batting average against. Walks have been a bit of a problem, particularly for right-handed relievers Logan Ondrusek and Jose Arredondo. Broxton somewhat adds to that problem.
The burly right-hander was having a nice season for the Royals, but is no longer the dominant closer he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2007 to 2009. Broxton’s strikeout numbers — which used to rival what Chapman is doing this year — have steadily declined; his K/9 this season is at 6.31, the lowest of his career. Broxton has gotten his walk rate under control — now at 3.53/9 — after a disastrous season of walks with the Dodgers in 2011. He’s also been much stingier with home runs this season, but that may very well change as he moves from the spacious Kauffman Stadium to the launching pad at Great American Ballpark.
USA Today is reporting that the Reds will use Broxton in the 8th inning to set-up Chapman in the 9th. But a mix-and-match scenario with left-hander Sean Marshall makes more sense. Marshall’s been effective against all batters this season with a 5.75 K/BB and a 2.39 FIP in 38 innings pitched. On the other hand, Marshall hasn’t yielded a home run to a left-handed batter all season and posts a higher strikeout rate and lower walk rate against left-handed batters.
The Reds added to a strength by trading for Broxton. Cincinnati’s bullpen has performed well so far this season, but also been one of the least used ‘pens at only 273.1 innings to date. Manager Dusty Baker will have more flexibility in the later innings to use Broxton against right-handed batters and Sean Marshall against lefties. That will free up Arredondo, Ondrusek, Alfredo Simon and Sam LeClure for middle relief.
Overall, the Broxton trade may not have been a necessary one for the division-leading Reds, but it makes them stronger down the stretch.
They are going to shut down Chapman. Not a suprise at all.
Uh no, there’s no reason they would. They DL’d Billy Bray to make room.
Reds bullpen is looking pretty loaded now. Kinda like the Cards was last year.
I don’t understand all these people who think Broxton’s having a nice season. 12.6 runners/9 IP. Very lucky, below-average season at best.
Steep price to pay for two months of a guy whose success is predicated on unsustainable strand, ground ball and HR rates. I wonder whether calling up Joseph would have been the more prudent move.
Sadly, unsustainable strand and ground ball rates (though not HR rate) applied to Ricky Romero after 2011. Not a prediction, but rather a cautionary tale.
Or… you could have a guy with actual MLB high pressure experience, and an extremely low HR/9 rate this year. A guy who will be (hopefully) pitching in high pressure situations, in a ballpark where your sister could hit home runs.
NOT saying Joseph isn’t a better option in the long run. But just saying for a one year deal… THIS year… I could see where the Reds might wanna hedge their bets.
Flags fly forever.
Royals with the theft.