Blue Jays, Drew Storen Avoid Arbitration

The Blue Jays and newly acquired closer Drew Storen have agreed to terms on a one-year, $8.375MM contract, thereby avoiding arbitration, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet (Twitter link). Toronto picked up Storen, a CAA client, in a swap that sent Ben Revere to the Nationals. His salary is a little less than five percent shy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz’s projection.

Storen, 28, should anchor the Toronto bullpen this season — his final year before becoming eligible for free agency. The former first-round pick spent much of the 2015 season as Washington’s closer but accepted a demotion to a setup role when the team acquired Jonathan Papelbon. Storen recorded a 3.44 ERA with 11.0 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 with 29 saves in 55 innings in his final year with the Nationals.