Phillies Sign RHP Drew Storen to Minor-League Contract
By Matt Rappa
The Phillies have reportedly signed former Nationals closer RHP Drew Storen to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.
With just three weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater, Florida, for spring training, the Philadelphia Phillies have added another pitching arm.
On Tuesday, the club signed eight-year veteran right-handed pitcher Drew Storen to a minor-league deal with an invitation to the big-league camp, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
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Storen, 32, would earn $750,000 if he makes the Phillies major-league roster. The former Washington Nationals 2009 first-round draft pick has collected a 29-18 record and 3.45 ERA through 470 career appearances, 187 of which finished a game.
Storen saved 95 games for the Nationals across his six seasons there, from 2010 to 2015. Coincidentally, he lost his closer job to Jonathan Papelbon, who the Phillies dealt to the nation’s capital in exchange for Nick Pivetta.
The Indianapolis, Indiana, native in Storen threw in a combined 57 games for the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners in 2016, before throwing in 58 with the Cincinnati Reds in 2017.
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After missing all of 2018 due to needing Tommy John surgery, Storen appeared in just nine games with the Kansas City Royals’ Double-A affiliate in 2019, posting a 7.84 ERA and 1.935 WHIP across 10 1/3 innings.
Among Storen’s career accomplishments include posting the fourth-most saves in the National League in 2011 (43), while also finishing the seventh-most games during the same season (52). Through six career postseason appearances, all occurring in the Division Series, the right-hander has allowed five earned runs cross 5 1/3 innings.
Other right-handed pitchers Storen will compete with as non-roster invitees this spring include Connor Brogdon, Spencer Howard, Ramon Rosso, and Addison Russ.