With strength in left field in the persons of two Canadians, Michael Saunders, 29, and Dalton Pompey, 23, the Jays braintrust offered up Revere to get a quality closer in return. Up until the Nationals acquired veteran Jonathan Papelbon last season, the right-handed throwing Storen was their closer and had managed 29 saves in 34 chances.
Storen, 28, finished the 2015 season at 2-2 with a 3.44 ERA and those 29 saves. In 2014 he lead the National League with a spiffy 1.12 ERA. His career numbers are 21-13 with a 3.02 ERA and 95 saves. His best season for saves came in his second season in 2011 when he notched 43.
From Indiana, the 6’1″ Storen has spent his entire six seasons in the majors with Washington. It is expected he will either earn the closer job outright, alternate in some way with the Jays’ current closer, Roberto Osuna, or play the role of Osuna’s right-handed set-up man.
The two should make a formidable duo.
The speedy lead-off man Revere, 27, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies at the trade deadline last season, is a talent who was great in the clubhouse. He provided plenty of offence in the stretch drive and tied Kevin Pillar and Jose Bautista for most hits, 12, for the Jays in the post-season.
But Revere was the player Washington targeted and clearly the Jays feel either Saunders. who missed all but nine games in 2015 due to injury, or Pompey will step-up and take his place. Revere will earn about $2 million less than the $8.8 million Storen will get in 2016; it’s the final year of Storen’s three-year deal.
Toronto will also give up another yet to be named player in the trade and will receive an undisclosed amount of cash from Washington. The additional player they will give up is not expected to be an impact player.
