RHP Drew Storen was designated for assignment Sunday and RHP Ryan Tepera was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. Storen was obtained in the offseason from the Washington Nationals for OF Ben Revere. Storen had been a closer for the Nationals before losing the job to RHP Jonathan Papelbon but built a reputation of not being able to handle pressure situations well. He never fit in with Toronto and his stuff was lacking in going 1-3 with a 6.21 ERA and three saves.

RHP Drew Storen hit consecutive batters with pitches in what became a six-run seventh for the Rockies. In his previous 32 games, Storen pitched 28 1/3 innings and hit three batters.

RHP Drew Storen threw a perfect inning Friday (the 10th) for only the second time in 25 outings this season and picked up his first win of the season against two losses when 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the 10th and give the Blue Jays a 4-3 victory. "He looked really good tonight," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He's been very successful in the past. He's not happy with the way things have gone this year, he knows he's better than that. Tonight was a big one for him, he was facing the top of the lineup."

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- If Monday night's win was exactly what the Toronto Blue Jays wanted to see from their bullpen -- Brett Cecil, Drew Storen and Roberto Osuna dominating the seventh, eighth and ninth innings -- then Tuesday and Wednesday were the frustrating polar opposite.In both games, Toronto had a lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning, only to give up a home run and lose. Cecil yielded a two-run blast to Logan Forsythe on Tuesday, and Gavin Floyd gave up a three-run shot to Steven Souza Jr. on Wednesday.The bullpen issues left the Jays with a 2-2 split as they head home to face the Boston Red Sox."Not a real good 24 hours, put it that way," manager John Gibbons said after Toronto's 5-3 loss Wednesday. He was still sore from a controversial ending Tuesday that saw two runs come off the board on what was ruled a game-ending interference call, overturned on a challenge that Jose Bautista made contact with Forsythe, the Rays' second baseman.The Jays are coming off a division... [More]

RHP Drew Storen agreed to a one-year deal worth $8.375 million on Friday to avoid arbitration.

RHP Drew Storen was acquired by the Blue Jays in a trade with the Nationals for OF Ben Revere on Friday night. The Nationals also were to get a player to be named as part of the deal and the Blue Jays will receive cash considerations. Storen, 28, wanted out of Washington after losing the closer role to Jonathan Papelbon, who was acquired from the Phillies last year. Storen moved into a setup role and did not fare well before his season ended Sept. 9 when he broke a thumb after slamming his locker in frustration. Storen appeared in 58 games in 2015 and was 2-2 with 29 saves and a 3.44 ERA in 55 innings. It's unclear whether the Blue Jays will use Storen as their closer next season or stick with Roberto Osuna.

Storen has been diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture in his right thumb and is unlikely to return this season, MASN's Dan Kolko reports.

The injury, which was the result of Storen slamming his hand into his locker in frustration after Wednesday's appearance, is expected to keep the right-hander out for the remainder of 2015. Storen simply wasn't the same pitcher after being bumped from the closer role in favor of trade acquisition Jonathan Papelbon, as he went to allow 14 earned runs in 16.2 innings after Aug. 1. He had a 1.89 ERA prior to the All-Star break.

Washington Nationals pitcher Drew Storen is expected to be out for the season after suffering a fractured right thumb when he slammed his hand into his locker in frustration Wednesday, according to MASN.

Washington Nationals pitcher Drew Storen is expected to be out for the season after suffering a fractured right thumb when he slammed his hand into his locker in frustration Wednesday, according to MASN. Storen, who was bumped from the closer role when the team acquired Jonathan Papelbon at the trade deadline, has allowed 14 earned runs in 16.2 innings since Aug. 1.

Storen walked three batters while recording only one out in a disastrous seventh inning Tuesday, helping to blow a six-run lead in a game the Nationals would eventually lose to the Mets 8-7.

He's been wildly inconsistent since being deposed from the closer role after the Nats acquired Jonathan Papelbon at the trade deadline, and Storen's 8.49 ERA in August and been followed by a September in which he's been charged with runs in three of his five appearances. He still has some potential keeper value in case he regains the closer job next year, but Storen isn't someone you actually want on your active roster right now.

Storen was stung for four runs on three hits, walking one and striking out one in an inning of work as the Nationals lost to Colorado 5-4 Friday night.

Just last week Storen was stripped of his closing duties when the team acquired Jonathan Papelbon, and even though he voiced his displeasure, he had performed very well in his new eighth inning role. That exemplary performance was put on hold here as he loaded the bases in the eighth inning, protecting a 4-1 lead, and then served up a grand slam home run to Carlos Gonzalez. Given his success throughout the season, this would have to be considered an aberration and shouldn't impact his fantasy value.

Storen notched his first hold of the season Thursday, striking out two in a perfect eighth inning against the Marlins.

This isn't headline news, as we already knew that Storen would be replaced in the ninth inning by new acquisition Jonathan Papelbon. He'll need Papelbon to slip up to regain the closer's role, which doesn't seem terribly likely, considering that Papelbon has been one of baseball's most reliable closers for years.

Storen pitched a perfect eighth inning Wednesday, striking out two.

The Nationals had just extended their lead to five runs in the top of the eighth, so Storen doesn't even get credit for a hold, but at least he doesn't appear to be sulking as a result of his demotion from the closer role following the acquisition of Jonathan Papelbon.

Storen will be relegated to the setup role with Jonathan Papelbon coming aboard via trade with the Phillies, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.

General manager Mike Rizzo left no doubt about the back-end roles when discussing Tuesday's trade, saying definitively that Papelbon "is our ninth-inning pitcher." It's likely a tough pill to swallow for Storen as he's been outstanding in the closer role to this point, converting 29-of-31 save opportunities and pitching to a 1.73 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 36.1 innings.

Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen will move into a setup role following the acquisition of Jonathan Papelbon from the Philadelphia Phillies, according to the Washington Post.

Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen will move into a setup role following the acquisition of Jonathan Papelbon from the Philadelphia Phillies, according to the Washington Post. Storen has converted 29 of 31 save opportunities this season, posting a 1.73 ERA with 44 strikeouts and just nine walks in 36.1 innings. General manager Mike Rizzo said Tuesday that Papelbon "is our ninth-inning pitcher." Rizzo said Storen is on board with the move. "We've got a good rapport, but that news was difficult to take," Rizzo said. "He took it like a pro." Papelbon has a $13 million vesting option in his contract based on finishing 100 games in 2014-15. He needs 14 more to hit that mark and reportedly would have vetoed the trade had he not been guaranteed to close. Storen had 43 saves in 2011 before moving back to a setup role for the next three seasons. Last September, though, he won back the job from Rafael Soriano, saving 11 of 14 chances.

Storen recorded his 29th save with a perfect, three-strikeout ninth against the Mets on Wednesday.

Not only has Storen been every bit as good as he was last year, but he's also seen a significant spike in his whiff rate this year, as he now owns an easily career-high 10.9 K/9. The Nats will likely be players in the trade market as the deadline approaches, but it seems unlikely that they'll bring in anyone to displace Storen from closing, as he's blown only two saves all year.

Storen struck out the only batter he faced Sunday agaisnt the Orioles to earn his 27th save of the season.

Max Scherzer was pulled after 8.2 innings and Storen was called upon to slam the door on a one-run victory. The 27-year-old has been excellent in his first full-time season as the closer, with a 1.89 ERA through 33.1 innings, and should continue to see plenty of save opportunities for the first-place Nationals.

Storen struck out one during a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 25th save of the season Sunday against the Giants.

The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the top fantasy closers in the game, as he has blown just two saves on the season while posting a 1.97 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Storen should continue to provide excellent returns for his owners as the first-place Nationals provide him with plenty of save opportunities.

Storen logged his 24th save with a clean ninth inning against San Francisco on Friday night.

Storen has been one of the most reliable closers all season, having failed to convert just two save opportunities while posting a 2.03 ERA and an improved strikeout ratio. The Nationals figure to be a winning team, and in the playoff hunt all year, so frequent chances are likely to come his way as the season wears on.

Storen shut down the Phillies on eight pitches Sunday to earn his 23rd save of the year.

That's two successful save chances in a row for the Washington closer, after he blew his second save of the season Wednesday. Storen is tied with Trevor Rosenthal for the NL lead in saves, and his strikeout rate is up more than 10 percent from the last few years thanks to a big jump in swinging-strike rate.

Storen logged a perfect ninth inning, striking out a pair, to pick up his 20th save of the season in Washington's 4-1 win against the Pirates on Friday night.

He bounced back nicely from a rare shaky outing his last time out. Storen is now 20-for-21 in save chances, and carries a sparkling 35:4 K:BB to go with a 2.08 ERA. He is firmly entrenched as one of the top closers in the game.