Storen, Tyler Clippard and Matt Thornton were all mentioned by Nationals manager Matt Williams as possible ninth-inning replacements for a struggling Rafael Soriano after Friday's game, the Washington Post reports.

Williams hasn't officially taken Soriano out of the closer role just yet, but indications are strong that the veteran reliever will get at least a temporary break from high-leverage use. If Williams makes the switch on Saturday though look for Storen, who only faced one batter on Friday, to get the nod.

Storen tossed a perfect seventh inning Friday, striking out two, to notch his 18th hold of the season.

He continues to roll merrily along, and now sports a 1.43 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB ratio in 44 innings. Rafael Soriano's 2015 option (which needs him to finish 120 games between last season and this one) seems unlikely to kick in, which could make Storen the favorite to be the Nats' closer next year. If he's available in shallow keeper leagues and you have a bench spot available, Storen may be worth adding.

Storen got the nod Wednesday with the Nationals leading 4-1 in the ninth inning, but nearly coughed up the lead by allowing two runs on three hits and a walk, including a Giancarlo Stanton home run.

While Rafael Soriano has looked a bit shaky recently in the closer role, Storen didn't exactly seize his opportunity on Wednesday. He did come away with his first save of the season, but unless Soriano completely falls apart don't look for manager Matt Williams to make a switch.

Drew Storen gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning Sunday against the Mets.

Storen hasn't made much of a case to be trusted with early-season leads with his performance this spring. He's allowed six runs and walked six in 5 2/3 innings to date.

Drew Storen claims he isn't worried about trade rumors.

"It's part of the business," Storen said. "You read it and ... eh, whatever happens. You never really know the full story. It's kind of funny. Once I dealt with it the first time in 2011, it just kind of rolls off." FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported earlier this month that Washington is shopping Storen, who will make $3.45 million in 2014 and is due raises in 2015 and 2016 during his final two arbitration seasons. Storen was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse during the 2013 season after posting a 5.95 ERA in 47 appearances, but he returned in August to collect a 1.40 ERA in his final 21 games. Assuming he isn't traded, Storen will set up Rafael Soriano in 2014. If he's traded, it would likely be to a team interested in immediately inserting him as closer, which would be a boon to Storen's fantasy value.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Nationals would like to trade Drew Storen.

Storen will make $3.45 million in 2014 and will be due for raises in 2015 and 2016 in his final two arbitration years. It's evidently more than the Nats want to pay for a guy who is coming off a disappointing year and who is slated for seventh inning duty. That said, Storen is fully capable of bouncing back, and $3.45 million is a relative bargain for a potential closer. The Nats should get plenty of phone calls if they're indeed motivated to deal him.

Nationals avoided arbitration with RHP Drew Storen by agreeing to a one-year, $3.45 million contract.

He can also earn $1 million more in incentives. Storen held a disappointing 4.52 ERA and was even demoted to the minors at one point in 2013, but he should be in line for a nice bounce-back season in 2014.

Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports that trade talks with the Cubs regarding Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard "never went anywhere."

The Cubs were rumored Monday to be looking at Storen or Clippard to fill their closer role, but talks are said to be dead. We wouldn't rule out negotiations being revisited later on, but the Cubs might find a better situation in free agency.

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs are eying Nationals' relievers Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard.

Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post confirms the report and adds that Cubs have interest in using Storen as their closer. Kilgore speculates that Nate Schierholtz and James Russell could be of interest to Washington.

Nationals recalled RHP Drew Storen from Triple-A Syracuse.

Storen had rattled off three straight scoreless appearances at the Triple-A level. He will probably pitch in low-leverage situations initially for the Nationals.

Nationals optioned RHP Drew Storen to Triple-A Syracuse.

Storen certainly hasn't pitched well this season, but this move still comes as a bit of a surprise. He posted a 5.95 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 43/13 K/BB ratio in his 42 1/3 innings. Look for him to get things straightened out at Triple-A, and return to the Nationals bullpen before the end of the season.

Drew Storen pitched despite the flu Friday and gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

He gave up two hits and a homer on his first four pitches of the afternoon. Storen was expected to be unavailable today because of his 102 degree fever and probably wouldn't have pitched in a close game. He's now given up 14 runs in 9 2/3 innings this month.

Drew Storen is not expected to be available during Friday's doubleheader due to the flu.

He should be OK sometime over the weekend. Storen has had a very disappointing year for the Nats, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 46 appearances.

Drew Storen recorded his second save of the season Friday with a perfect ninth inning against the Mets.

Rafael Soriano was unavailable after pitching the previous three games. Storen hasn't allowed a run in his last eight appearances and has lowered his ERA to 3.86 for the year.

Despite taking a comebacker off his pitching hand, Drew Storen pitched a scoreless 10th inning Friday against the Padres for his first save.

Aided by a Ryan Zimmerman throwing error, Rafael Soriano took a blown save in the ninth. Storen got his chance in the 10th after a Chad Tracy homer and got the job done, though not before allowing a couple of singles. The first of those was a hard shot up the middle that deflected off his pitching hand. Storen, though, remained in after a couple of warmups. His ERA sits at 4.41 currently, and he's no threat to Soriano's job as is.

Drew Storen allowed a run in the eighth inning Sunday, blowing the Nationals' 1-0 lead over the Cubs.

Chicago went on to win it 2-1 after scoring off Rafael Soriano in the ninth. Storen has posted a disappointing 4.73 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 13 1/3 frames this season.

Drew Storen blew a save in Friday's extra-inning loss to the Braves.

Rafael Soriano was unavailable after appearing in three straight games, so Nationals manager Davey Johnson called on Storen to get a four-out save. While he was able to get Dan Uggla to fly out with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning, he gave up three hits and a walk in the ninth. The Braves tied the game when Ryan Zimmerman fielded a chopper and made a wild throw to second base and eventually won in 10 innings. While it led to a crushing loss for the Nationals, Soriano should be ready for a potential save chance on Saturday.

With Rafael Soriano having been used three days in a row, Drew Storen would be used as the Nationals' closer Friday if a save situation arises.

Soriano has looked shaky at times early on and has dealt with a minor leg ailment, but he's been better the last two times out. Storen boasts a 2.25 ERA and 5/0 K/BB ratio over four innings this season and is one of the better setup men in the game.

Drew Storen admitted on Saturday that he was "caught off guard" when he heard that the Nationals had signed closer Rafael Soriano.

Storen, the Nats incumbent closer, found out the information on twitter and immediately called bullpen-mate Tyler Clippard to discuss the situation. In the end though, Storen agrees that Soriano makes the team much better as a whole and will cause him to work that much harder. Even in a setup role, Storen remains one of the best young relievers in the National League and should be rostered in most deep fantasy formats.

Nationals and RHP Drew Storen avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.5 million contract.

The news was announced by Storen's representatives at CAA. Storen is in his first of four arbitration years, so he'll start raking in the big bucks pretty quickly if he can keep his numbers strong. The 25-year-old righty is expected to serve as a setup man behind Rafael Soriano in 2013.