Storen shrugging off familiar trade rumors

Drew Storen has been here before.

The Toronto Blue Jays' reliever, acquired from the Washington Nationals in the offseason for outfielder Ben Revere, has done nothing to live up to his set-up man expectations.

Through his first 15 innings in Toronto, he's stumbled to a 7.80 ERA, giving up 12 runs on 22 hits. So when he saw his name come up in trade rumors, he wasn't the least bit surprised.

"Like I’ve said, I’ve been in rumors before," he told the Toronto Star's Mark Zwolinski. "It’s fun, everyone enjoys reading it, but it’s not anything new to me. And it’s not my decision; it’s the name of the game.

"You can only control what you control, and then try not to get caught up in it.”

Because of his shoddy start to his Blue Jays career, the club has made it clear that he is in fact available if the right deal surfaces.

Related: Blue Jays reportedly have made Storen available

In six seasons as a relief pitcher in Washington, Storen compiled a 3.02 ERA in 334 innings pitched, notching 95 saves in the process.

But when he was supplanted by Jonathan Papelbon, who was brought in by the Nationals at the trade deadline last season, his name began floating around as a trade chip when it became clear his closer role was in jeopardy.

His struggles this season have triggered similar talks.

“That’s the nature of the business," he said. "Obviously, you look at (Papelbon's contract), and I’m not under team control next year. But I’ve been in this (situation) before and it’s a long process from rumor to something happening. I’m not going to let it affect me.”

Storen is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $8.83 million this season.