Solano elects free agency after clearing outright waivers

Catcher Jhonatan Solano, who has spent the better part of the last decade in the Nationals organization, has elected to become a free agent after he cleared outright waivers in a transaction that opened up a spot on the club's 40-man roster.

Solano was supposed to open this season at Triple-A Syracuse, but he quickly was promoted to Washington in early April after Matt Wieters went on the disabled list and Miguel Montero went on paternity leave. He spent only three days on the active roster, and did not appear in a game, but instead of being sent back to the minors was placed on the DL with bone spurs in his right elbow. He wound up spending the rest of the season on the 60-day DL.

League rules require that all players be transferred off the 60-day DL and back onto the 40-man roster this week. The Nationals chose to place Solano, 33, on outright waivers, and once he cleared he was assigned to Triple-A Fresno. The veteran catcher chose to elect his right to declare free agency, so he's now allowed to sign with any organization.

Originally signed out of his native Colombia in 2010, Solano reached the big leagues in 2012 and hit .217 with two homers and eight RBIs in 36 games for the Nationals. Released following the 2014 season, he signed with the Marlins (where he joined his brother, Donovan) and appeared in seven games for them in 2015 before rejoining the Nationals the following season.

Today's transaction leaves the Nats with 34 players currently on their 40-man roster. That does not include reliever Trevor Rosenthal, whose signing with the club will not be official until he passes a physical in the coming days.