Report: Reds interested in John Axford
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John Axford has reportedly piqued the interest of the Cincinnati Reds, one source told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon, as the club endeavors to repair a bullpen that fashioned the fifth-worst earned run average in the majors last season.
Aroldis Chapman enjoyed another dominant campaign in the closer's role and Jonathan Broxton thrived as his setup man, but the rest of Cincinnati's relief corps struggled mightily in 2014.
None of the other nine relievers to log at least 10 innings managed an ERA below 3.38 and the bullpen's collective 11.3 percent walk rate tied for the worst mark in baseball.
Once considered among the game's most dominant closers, Axford has regressed over the last three seasons while spending time with four different teams.
The 31-year-old crafted a 3.95 ERA last season - his lowest since 2011 - with a 1.45 WHIP over 62 outings between the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates. Though Axford managed an impressive 25.9 percent strikeout rate, the six-year veteran also posted the third-worst walk rate among qualified relievers while yielding six home runs over 54 2/3 innings.
No deal is imminent, though, and Axford is also believed to be generating interest from four other clubs.