Nationals trade Drew Storen to Blue Jays for Ben Revere

Barely 24 hours after Denard Span signed with the Giants, the Nationals have found his replacement. The Nats announced late tonight that they dealt right-hander Drew Storen and cash considerations to the Blue Jays for speedy outfielder Ben Revere and a player to be named.

Revere slashed .306/.342/.377 with 22 doubles, seven triples, two homers, 84 runs scored and 31 stolen bases in 152 games with the Phillies and Blue Jays last season. Philadelphia sent the 27-year-old to Toronto at last July's trade deadline. He batted .255 in 11 postseason games with the Blue Jays.

Minnesota selected Revere 28th overall in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. He made his major league debut with the Twins in 2010, hitting .278 over two-plus seasons before Minnesota dealt him to Philadelphia prior to the 2013 season.

In 2014, Revere tied Span - his old teammate with the Twins - for most hits in the National League with 184. He also swiped 49 bases that season, fourth most in the majors.

New Nationals manager Dusty Baker has mentioned more than once this offseason that he would like more speed and left-handed hitters on the Nationals roster. With Revere, Baker gets both. Revere figures to bat atop Baker's lineup and start in center field. The move allows 24-year-old Michael A. Taylor to continue his development while giving the Nationals considerable depth in the outfield.

Storen's stormy career in Washington comes to an unceremonious ending. The Nationals drafted Storen with the 10th overall pick in 2009 and he made his major league debut less than a year later. He amassed 113 saves, second-most in Nationals history, but experienced some high-profile disasters along the way, most notably a blown save in Game 5 of the 2012 National League Division Series against the Cardinals.

Storen seemed to be on track for his best season in 2015, converting 29 of 31 save chances with a 1.73 ERA before general manager Mike Rizzo traded for veteran closer Jonathan Papelbon in late July. The move bumped Storen into a setup role and sent his season in a spiral. He posted a 6.75 ERA over his final 20 appearances before breaking his right thumb while slamming his locker in frustration on Sept. 9.

Papelbon remains on the Nationals roster despite being mentioned in trade rumors all offseason, but Baker will now need to identify a setup man.