The Washington Nationals have traded reliever Drew Storen to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for outfielder Ben Revere. The team issued a press release late Friday.
Revere, 28 in May, hit .306/.342/.377 with 31 steals in 38 attempts between Philadelphia and Toronto. In six MLB seasons, he’s a .295/.328/.348 hitter. He’s a competent fielder and as a left-handed hitter, will most likely start in centerfield, allowing Michael Taylor to be used as a super-sub and providing insurance against the inevitable seasonal trip to the D.L. for Jayson Werth.
Storen’s relationship with the Nationals has been rocky over the past several seasons. A quality reliever, his role — and tenure with the team — has seemingly been in jeopardy ever since he failed to close out the Cardinals in the NLDS in 2012.
He’s been removed from the closer’s duties twice, including the middle of last season when — in the middle of an All-Star caliber season — the Nats traded for Jonathan Papelbon and gave him the closer role, reducing Storen to set-up.
As we all know, that move did not end up well. In the least.
Regardless, the Nats now have their centerfielder/leadoff hitter, and Storen has a new work address.
Drew Storen and Kurt Suzuki after win and Nats clinch playoff berth – Los Angeles Dodgers v. Washington Nationals, September 20, 2012, (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)
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