After adding Ben Revere, Nationals will try to find at-bats for Michael A. Taylor

VIERA, Fla. — Ben Revere was almost ready for bed when his phone rang. The conversation was quick and caused him to make other calls. So, he dialed his girlfriend, then his parents. Revere informed them that was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Washington Nationals, joining his third team in five months. He spent his first eight years in the league playing for two teams.

Michael A. Taylor was taking batting practice with a friend when the news was casually thrown out there. Taylor was asked — days after the transaction — if he had heard that Revere was traded to the Nationals for reliever Drew Storen. He hadn’t and returned to hitting.

Revere’s arrival at spring training in Viera didn’t just cause a shift in the bullpen, but also restructured the Nationals’ outfield look. He’s expected to be the starting center fielder, a .295 career hitter with good speed who doesn’t walk often or supply power.

That means Taylor will be bumped down to the fourth outfielder role. Washington still expects him to receive about 400 at-bats this season. How he arrives there — filling in on days off, as a late-game defensive replacement — will be up to new manager Dusty Baker.

Revere said he was not surprised by yet another trade. The Blue Jays splurged at the end of last season in pursuit of a World Series title. They traded two minor leagues for Revere on July 31. The day before, Toronto traded for left-handed ace David Price. That was preceded by a move to acquire shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and veteran closer LaTroy Hawkins. Toronto redefined all-in.

It worked to an extent. The Blue Jays won the American League East. They lost the American League Championship Series, 4-2, to the eventual World Series champion Kansas City Royals. Bringing on so much salary in the second half of the season meant much of it would have to go during the offseason. Price signed with the Boston Red Sox as a free agent. The Blue Jays are on the hook for another $94 million to be delivered to Tulowitzki. The outfield was also crowded. Off went Revere for needed bullpen help.

“Talked to Denard [Span],” Revere said. “He said everybody is so great over here, treated him so right. The fans, the city, everything. It’s a great team. Just playing against the Nationals all the time I was with the Phillies, it was fun.
“But, I’m glad to be on the team that [Max] Scherzer, [Stephen] Strasburg, Gio [Gonzalez], these guys are on, and not facing them, because they used to whoop our butt a lot.”

Revere is also hoping for legs that feel better than they did at the end of last season. He said the turf in Toronto makes players’ legs ache. He added the turf in Tampa Bay was worse.

“The last three games of the season against Tampa, I thought my legs were going to fall off,” Revere said.

In the offseason, Baker had repeatedly mentioned his preference for more team speed. Revere averages 44 stolen bases every 162 games. Taylor’s 16 stolen bases led the team last season.

“I can cause so much havoc on the basepaths,” Revere said.

The stoic Taylor said the trade changes little for him. He spent the offseason trying to become bigger, faster and stronger, the ever-pursued athlete’s triumvirate of improvement. He gained weight, which is apparent to the eye and him. He just didn’t know how much early in spring training, because he was yet to step on a scale.

Taylor also adjusted his swing. He made slight mechanical changes throughout, including his hands, hips and feet. Taylor’s swing at Wednesday morning’s live batting practice appeared shorter.

Beyond the physical change, Taylor continues to focus on a mental adjustment. He struck out 158 times in just 472 at-bats last season. Taylor has said he tried to hit the ball for distance as opposed to concentrating on more and better contact. He’s trying to adjust his brain to the concept, even in the offseason.

“I think it’s something you can work on in the offseason,” Taylor said. “Just what you’re thinking at the plate contributes a lot to that. Your mentality going through BP or off the tee, focusing on squaring the ball up, making hard contact versus flying open and trying to hit it over the stands.”

Taylor, 24, also tantalized with 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases, producing a 14.9 power-speed number, a statistic developed by Bill James, in his rookie year. For comparison, the Chicago Cubs’ Jason Heyward had a 13.9 power-speed number in his rookie season. Former player Mike Cameron, whom Taylor is often compared to, had a 17.4 in his first full season.

The melding of power, speed, strong arm and extensive defensive range have the Nationals still high on Taylor. Though, Revere’s arrival — and the offseason pursuit of Heyward — showed the club is not ready to turn to hand him a full-time spot yet. When that happens, perhaps his friend can let him know.