Reds acquire Kevin Shackelford, Barrett Astin from Brewers to complete Jonathan Broxton trade

The Reds have acquired right-handed pitchers Kevin Shackelford and Barrett Astin from the Brewers as the players to be named later in last month's Jonathan Broxton trade, according to a team announcement. Today's move completes the deal that sent Broxton to Milwaukee on August 31.

Shackelford, 25, was the Brewers' 21st round pick in the 2010 draft and spent the year split between High-A Brevard County and Double-A Huntsville. He posted a 2-4 record and 3.69 ERA in 70.2 relief innings between the two stops, lowering his career ERA to 3.97 in five minor league seasons. He was ranked as the Brewers' 21st best prospect headed into the season, but cleared outright waivers in July and was outrighted to Double-A.

Astin, 22, spent the season with Single-A Wisconsin, posting an 8-7 record and 4.96 ERA in 27 games (18 starts). He was ranked as the organization's 22nd best prospect after being drafted in the third round of the 2013 draft, but has seen his stock fall due to struggles over his first two professional seasons.

For the Reds, the Broxton trade was more about clearing salary than anything else, meaning that the prospects they got back were not expected to be highly-touted. In addition to Shackelford and Astin, the Reds received more than $12 million in salary relief by sending Broxton to a division rival with a year remaining on his contract.