Buried in this early autopsy of the 2015 Washington Nationals is an interesting line from Robert Boswell of the Washington Post regarding deposed closer Drew Storen.
What you have is demoted, dissatisfied Drew Storen wanting a trade that he will almost certainly get this winter.
Storen was dragged from the closer’s role for the second time in his tenure with the Nationals just before the trade deadline last month, when Washington acquired Jonathan Papelbon from the Phillies.
In the last month, with Papelbon now closing games for the Nationals, Storen has thrown 12 2/3 innings, pitching to a 7.82 ERA despite striking out 16 and walking just two. The 28-year old saved 29 games and blew just two when the Papelbon trade was made, and he’s clearly not happy in his new role.
The 28-year old Storen is making $5.7 million this year, and won’t be a free agent until after the 2016 season. There aren’t many top-tier relievers on the free agent market, with Tyler Clippard, Tommy Hunter, Jim Johnson, and Joakim Soria heading the class.
If the Nationals can get back a prospect of a comparable (if not better) quality than Nick Pivetta, who the sent to the Phillies for Papelbon, maybe their closer swap won’t end up looking all that awful in the long run.
