The Cardinals sent minor-league outfielder Malik Collymore, 20, to the Brewers and received cash considerations along with Broxton.
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Broxton will also face competition from Steve Cishek, whom the Cardinals acquired in a trade with the Miami Marlins earlier this month. They’re missing both Matt Belisle (elbow) and Jordan Walden (biceps) due to injury.
The one thing that Broxton still has going for him is his lively arm.
In 2015, Broxton is 1-2 with a 5.89 ERA, but a 3.65 xFIP, meaning that he’s been relatively unlucky this season. He has good pitches, he knows how to keep the ball in the strike zone, and he has good command of his pitches. Lefties have crushed Broxton this year:.349/.382/.524 (149 OPS+). Only Kansas City has a lower bullpen ERA than the Cardinals’ 2.33, but Mozeliak recognized the workload and the possibility of fraying.
It’s a position that he’s been in before, including last August 31 when he came to the Brewers in a waiver deadline deal with the Cincinnati Reds. He’s now hitting.216/.326/.378 with two home runs and seven RBI through 23 games of rookie ball. The Brewers, on the seller side, restocked a paltry farm system through deals that included center fielder Carlos Gomez and concluded with Broxton on Friday morning.
The Milwaukee Brewers continue to make moves as the trade deadline approaches.
Broxton has pitched in 36 2/3 innings this season as the setup man for the Brewers.
St. Louis receives $1 million from Milwaukee to cover part of Broxton’s $9 million salary.
Perhaps his track record was enough to convince St. Louis that he was a reasonable pickup.
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To make room for Broxton on the 25-man and 40-man rosters, the Cardinals optioned reliever Miguel Socolovich to Class AAA Memphis and designated pitcher Marcus Hatley for assignment.
