Mike Rizzo reacts after trading Drew Storen for Ben Revere

Following a highly disappointing 2015 campaign and facing the loss of several veteran free agents, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was forced to change the complexion of the roster. Finding a leadoff hitter - preferably a left-handed swinging outfielder - and reconstructing the bullpen were high on Rizzo's winter wish list. In a trade with the Blue Jays late last night, Rizzo addressed both by sending right-hander Drew Storen and cash to Toronto for 27-year-old outfielder Ben Revere and a player to be named later.

"This deal came about by two teams having a good fit for each other," Rizzo said on a conference call this morning. "It's a good baseball trade. We get a lot of things that help us. We get ourselves a good left-handing hitting outfielder who plays all three positions, can hit at the top of the order, can steal you a base, brings you energy, brings you a smile to the ballpark every night. And they get themselves a quality pitcher that can pitch back end innings of a ballgame."

Storen is set to become a free agent following this season, while the Nationals will have Revere under contract through 2017, something that was important to Rizzo.

"He's age-appropriate at 27 years old," Rizzo said of Revere. "He's got a lot left in the tank and we think that he's a player that can impact us for a couple of years. Any time you get an everyday-type of player that can impact the ballclub and fits a need so well for a reliever that has one year left, then that's something you have to look into.

"It's something that we've done the last two years with (trading for Tyler Clippard for Yunel Escobar) and now Drew for Ben. I like that fact. To acquire players and give up money to make deals, I think that's something that the Lerner family has always allowed us to do. It's something that really can impact your depth, as you're not only getting Ben Revere for Drew Storen, you're also getting another player that can help your minor league depth and then possibly in the big leagues some time."

With Denard Span leaving in free agency - he signed a three-year deal with the Giants on Thursday - the Nationals were in need of a replacement atop their batting order. Despite not walking much - only 25 times the past two seasons - Revere has posted a combined .303 batting average and .333 on-base percentage. In 2014, he tied for the National League lead with 184 hits and stole 49 bases, fourth-best in the majors.

"He's one of the fastest players in the league," Rizzo said. "He can steal you a base. He plays good defense. He's a left-handed contact hitter. When we talk about players like Ben Revere and his skill set, he doesn't hit many doubles and he doesn't get many walks, but the guy gets on base. Last year, he was at a .342 clip. His singles turn into doubles. We feel good about him. He's hit at the top of the lineup each stage of his career.

"He's got a propensity to steal you a base in big situations and he's the type of leadoff hitter that is very tough to pitch against. He fouls off a lot of pitches and has really good at-bats. We look forward to seeing him on our team this year. He's played against us for years. He's a guy that we've respected for a long time. It should be fun to see his gregarious personality, his smile and his energy, the way he grinds out at-bats, plays defense and steals bases."

Rizzo said he had a great conversation with Storen late last night after the trade despite the two having differences over the years. Storen lost hold of the closer job three different times, most recently late last July when the Nationals acquired veteran Jonathan Papelbon. Despite the adversity, Storen still leaves D.C. with 113 saves, second-most in Nationals history.

"He really performed for us," Rizzo reflected. "I've got a great affinity for Drew. The one thing Drew and I can say honestly is that we've had some difficult conversations, but we've had them eye-to-eye, man-to-man. This is a guy who really cared about the organization and really handled himself in a professional way every single time. I'm proud to say that he's a product of the Washington Nationals scouting and player development system and performed admirably for us in the big leagues. Wish him nothing but the best in Toronto unless we play him, then we want to beat him."