Jonathan Broxton Signs One-Year Deal with Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals and Jonathan Broxton agreed to a one-year deal worth $4 million on Tuesday, gearing up the right-handed reliever to become Joaqim Soria's new setup man.

The 27-year-old chubster made $7 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season in the second installment of a two-year, $11 million deal, so he's actually taking quite a pay-cut. However, after being limited to just 14 games to due elbow trouble in 2011, it's not like he should have expected a raise.

The two-time All Star went 1-2 with seven saves and a 5.68 ERA before landing on the disabled list on May 6 with bone spurs in his pitching elbow that eventually required surgery on Sept. 19.

This is just the latest of a couple offseason moves by general manager Dayton Moore in an attempt to better the long-time craptastic Royals. He traded outfielder Melky Cabrera to the San Francisco Giants after a career season for lefty Jonathan Sanchez and another pitching prospect before inking free agent pitcher Bruce Chen to a $9 million, two-year deal. Baby steps.

[Kansas City Star]

Enjoy Tonight's 2010 MLB All-Star Game

The MLB All-Star game is still an exhibition, but it means more than any other All-Star game in any other sport. The winning league of tonight's 8pm ET game on FOX will gain home field advantage in the World Series. Kind of a big deal, as it has been since the game ended horribly in a 7-7 tie in 2002 at Miller Park.

Some changes to this year's contest include the adoption of the designated hitter, regardless of what league's ballpark is holding the event. This means pitchers won't have to worry about injuring themselves on a whiff and one more National League slugger gets a shot at making the roster.