Salary Dump: Cincinnati Reds Trade Jonathan Broxton to Milwaukee Brewers

Aug 24, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Jonathan Broxton (51) pitches during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park. The Reds defeated the Braves 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Reds fans have been waiting for the team to make a significant move for two months, and we finally got our wish.  On Sunday, the Reds traded reliever Jonathan Broxton to the Milwaukee Brewers for two players to be named later:

While the move comes much too late to help the Reds make the playoffs this season, it could be the first domino in a series of moves that might lead to an upgraded club for 2015.

General manager Walt Jocketty has lamented the Reds’ lack of financial flexibility (whose fault is that, again?) all season, and the Broxton trade has all the earmarkings of a salary dump.   The first clue is that no “names” are coming back to Cincinnati — PBTNLs don’t usually reshape a club.

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But by slashing the roughly $10 million owed to Broxton between now and the end of next season, Jocketty has gained a little nest egg with which to begin his pursuit of offensive help in the off-season.

There is also a general expectation that the Reds will trade one of their four rotation members due for free agency after 2015 before Spring Training begins.   Jocketty’s job on that front is decide which of Alfredo Simon, Mike Leake, Johnny Cueto and Mat Latos is most expendable and most valuable on the market.

For the Brewers, Broxton represents a strong relief option for the stretch run and a potential closer candidate for next year and beyond.