November 28, 2012

Transaction Analysis

Reds Lock Down a Closer

by R.J. Anderson

CINCINNATI REDS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

Signed RHP Jonathan Broxton to a three-year deal worth $21 million. [11/27]

By signing Broxton to handle the ninth-inning duties, the Reds can now move Aroldis Chapman to the rotation. But is that a good thing?

Broxton arrived in Cincinnati after a deadline deal. Although his ERA was shiny through 35 Kansas City appearances, nobody could feel too confident in the underlying measures. Broxton had the lowest strikeout rate of his career and a poor strikeout-to-walk ratio. Something clicked for him with the Reds. His strikeout rate improved, as did his peripherals, and he began allowing fewer hits. The Reds liked what they saw from Broxton and his fill-in duties in September enough to give the burly right-hander a big deal.

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