Broxton says Royals hunted him down

Hey, now we know how the Royals jumped ahead of a dozen other teams to land All-Star reliever Jonathan Broxton. They did it at gunpoint. OK, that's a slight exaggeration, but there definitely were firearms involved in the Royals' relentless recruiting of the former Dodger closer. Manager Ned Yost invited Broxton, a fellow Georgia resident, to join him on a hunting trip along with Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur and comedy superstar Jeff Foxworthy. While the gang was trying to bag some whitetail deer, Francoeur got in Broxton's ear about what an exciting, aggressive team he'd find in Kansas City and how much he'd enjoy pitching for the ambitious young Royals. "Ned and Frenchy definitely had a lot to do with my decision," Broxton said during an introductory press conference at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. "Frenchy kept telling me that it was a great young team that really wanted to win. "Ned and Frenchy and (GM Dayton Moore) stressed the Royals' expectations, and I want to be on a competitive team. I like young teams that are really ready to start winning." Broxton, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound strikeout machine (11.55 per 9 innings, the third-highest percentage in MLB), missed most of the 2011 season with bone chips in his elbow. But he was still in great demand once he became a free agent after the season. "There's really no medical issue, as far as we're concerned," Moore said. "He had surgery to clean up the elbow in September, and our medical people are convinced he'll be 100 percent. "That was no secret. The medical information is available to everyone, which is why so many teams wanted to sign Jonathan. He's been one of the most dominant relievers in baseball for several years." Broxton was selected to the National League All-Star team in 2009 and 2010. "I feel fine," he said. "I'll be throwing in another 15-16 days (on the same schedule as the rest of the Royals' pitchers), and I expect to be as strong as ever in spring training." Broxton admitted he was flattered by the Royals' unashamed recruitment of him. "They were the first to talk with me, and the first to make an offer," he said. "Then Ned invited me to go hunting. "I felt really comfortable, and the decision (to sign with Kansas City) seemed right." Broxton signed a one-year deal worth about 4 million, plus an additional 1 million in possible incentives. Doing so, Broxton turned down some multi-year offers Moore said he didn't ask the Royals for one and also dismissed some teams that were planning to give him their closer's role. Broxton doesn't have that guarantee in Kansas City, where Joakim Soria is the ninth-inning fixture. "I'll pitch wherever and whenever they ask me," Broxton said. "Whatever helps us win. "When I joined the Dodgers, we had a young team there, too. We were fighting to make the playoffs, and we did it. That's really what it's all about." Moore was openly excited about landing Broxton, whom he scouted in high school. "I know a lot about him, and so do quite a few of our people," Moore said. "Jonathan is a fierce competitor, and has a very strong character. "He's exactly the type of player we're always hoping to find." Interestingly, the hulking Broxton who has been clocked at 100 miles per hour with his humming fastball doesn't like the idea of presenting any kind of "intimidator" image on the mound. "I'm actually pretty laid back," he said. "I don't show a lot of emotion. "I hate people that show up the game, pointing at guys they strike out and things like that. You have to respect baseball." The 27-year-old Broxton clearly takes the sport, and his team, very seriously. He made it a point to mention that even while he was spending a good share of last season on the disabled list, he attended every game -- and tried to offer encouragement to any of the young Dodger pitchers who approached him. "It's not often that you get to introduce a player of this caliber as a member of your organization," Moore said. "I think everyone will like him as a person -- and on the mound, he will definitely help us match up with anybody over the last third of a game. "Obviously, that's critical for us." Moore also repeated that Broxton's signing along with a trade that brought lefty starter Jonathan Sanchez from the Giants with only a year left on his contract indicates that the Royals definitely hope to become contenders in 2012. "We want to win now," Moore said. "Any trade or signing we make is about giving us a better chance of winning our division this coming year."