Jonathan Broxton blew a save in ugly fashion Wednesday, giving up two runs in the 12th against the A's. Both runs were unearned, as the rally started with Seth Smith reaching on an Alcides Escobar error with one out. Still, what happened afterwards was discouraging. Broxton walked two, gave up a game-tying groundout and then hit back-to-back batters, with the second one forcing in the winning run. Greg Holland was pretty stellar in his two innings today, striking out three of the six batters he faced. Broxton will probably get a little more rope, but it figures to become Holland's job at some point.

Royals closer Jonathan Broxton was a little shaky in his season debut allowing a run on two hits in his inning of work. Kendrys Morales lead off the inning with a double and after a single came around to score on a Bobby Abreu sacrifice fly. He induced a Vernon Wells double play to escape further damage and end the game. Greg Holland looked shaky in his debut Friday, so there is no immediate danger to his closer's job.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Thursday that Jonathan Broxton will open the season as the team's primary closer. Not unexpected, as Broxton has previous closer experience and posted a 1.13 ERA and 11/4 K/BB ratio over eight innings this spring following offseason elbow surgery. There are still injury concerns, but he should be owned wherever available. Greg Holland looms as a potential alternative down the road.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes that the Royals are "leaning toward" Jonathan Broxton for their vacant closer job. The Royals haven't tipped their hand on a replacement for Joakim Soria (elbow) yet, but Broxton has previous "closer experience" and has looked good this spring following elbow surgery, posting a 1.50 ERA and 7/3 K/BB ratio over six innings. Still, there are obvious injury concerns and Greg Holland is the better bet for the long-term.

Jonathan Broxton is scheduled to make his spring debut Sunday in a B-game against the Rangers. It will be his first game action since undergoing elbow surgery last September. The 27-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Royals in November and is expected to pitch in a set-up role this season.

Jonathan Broxton's one-year, $4 million contract with the Royals carres $1 million worth of incentives. In other words, Broxton can earn a total of $5 million if everything goes right for him in Kansas City next year. The 27-year-old right-hander posted an ugly 5.68 ERA in 12 2/3 innings this past season for Los Angeles and a 4.04 ERA over 62 1/3 innings in 2010, but the hope is that he will be able to bounce back to his days of dominance with good health and a low-pressure setup role.

Jonathan Broxton's new one-year deal with the Royals is worth $4 million, according to SI.com's Jon Heyman. The contract will be finalized on Wednesday after Broxton passes his pre-signing physical. He's going to be used as a setup man in Kansas City, according to Heyman, meaning Joakim Soria is likely to remain firmly entrenched in the team's ninth-inning role. Broxton, 27, registered a rough 5.68 ERA in 12 2/3 innings this past year for the Dodgers while dealing with elbow issues. He'll be looking to get his career back on track in KC.

According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Royals have reached a one-year deal with Jonathan Broxton. The agreement will be finalized once Broxton passes a physical. Rosenthal suggests that the signing could pave the way for Joakim Soria's transition to the starting rotation, but Broxton has not been a reliable closer since the early part of the 2010 season and it seems doubtful that Kansas City would trust him with that role out of the gate. The big right-hander posted a 5.68 ERA across 12 2/3 innings this past year while battling elbow issues.

The Rockies have discussed free agent reliever Jonathan Broxton if they trade Huston Street, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com. The Rangers also talked to Broxton prior to signing Joe Nathan. Broxton is close to making a decision on where he will play next season, according to his agent BB Abbott. He has all but ruled out returning to the Dodgers or signing with the Mets. The Marlins, Blue Jays and Rays are all possibilities, though Broxton has garnered interest from more than 10 clubs.

Free agent reliever Jonathan Broxton has ruled out returning to the Dodgers. "He will not be back in L.A.," Broxton's agent BB Abbott said. Earlier this offseason, Broxton said he was open to returning to the Dodgers, but talks must have broken down. "He had multiple suitors and we should have something tentative in the next few days," Abbott said. We know that more than 10 teams have kicked the tires on Broxton and that the veteran reliever would prefer to sign with a team close to his home state of Georgia. Broxton hasn't been effective since the beginning of the 2010 season, so he'll likely have to settle for a one-year deal heavy in incentives.