Cincinnati Reds Reportedly Acquire Royals' Closer Jonathan Broxton

FOX MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal is reporting, via his Twitter account, that the Cincinnati Reds have acquired closer Jonathan Broxton from the Kansas City Royals:

"

Source: #Reds get Broxton.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2012"

Rosenthal did not explain the specific details of the trade, which have yet to surface.

Rosenthal had tweeted earlier in the day that the Texas Rangers had decided to bow out of the running for Broxton's services, at which time the Reds came into the picture:

"

Sources: #Reds trying to get Broxton from #Royals. #Rangers are out on Broxton. Other teams in play.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2012"

After a season to forget with the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 2011, Broxton reemerged as his once-All-Star-caliber self for KC this year. The closer currently owns a microscopic ERA of 2.27 with a 1.40 WHIP and 23 saves on the year.

That ERA barely above 2.00 is a career best, and his save total is his highest since 2009, when he recorded 36 saves and earned an All-Star selection with the Dodgers. While those totals were obviously based on a full season's work, Broxton's current pace should lead to his best ERA since that year.

Broxton joins a Reds bullpen that already owns the best ERA in baseball, at 2.66, and will be setting up Aroldis Chapman, according to a high-ranking source who spoke with Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Chapman himself owns a remarkable ERA of 1.45 with 21 saves on the year as the Reds closer.

The Reds are currently in first place in the National League Central division and will look to stay there with the help of yet another stellar arm in the bullpen.