Reds rumors: Cincinnati, Jonathan Broxton in 'serious talks'

The Cincinnati Reds are engaged in "serious talks" with free agent right-hander Jonathan Broxton, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The deal will likely cover three years, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

Sources: #Reds in serious talks with Broxton. Expected to be multi-year deal.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 26, 2012

Rosenthal adds that the contract the Reds and Broxton are negotiating is expected to be for three years.

Broxton signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals last offseason. After spending the first half of the year as the Royals’ closer, the big right-hander was shipped to the Reds in exchange for Donnie Joseph and J.C. Sulbaran.

Over 60 appearances with the Royals and Reds last season Broxton maintained an ERA of 2.48 with 27 saves. The 29-year-old owns a career ERA of 3.10 with 11.0 strikeouts and 3.6 walks per nine innings over eight seasons at the major league level.

If the Reds were to sign Broxton it would provide them with flexibility when it comes to shaping the back-end of their bullpen for 2013. As of now the team has Aroldis Chapman penciled in at closer, but the addition of Broxton would make it easier for Cincinnati to shift the Cuban native to its starting rotation.