Ray King won't have to report to the minors after all.

The Nationals outrighted King to Class AAA Columbus today, after he cleared waivers, and King elected to become a free agent. Thus, he's free to sign with any team out there and isn't required to go back to the minors for the first time in nearly a decade.

King had initially been optioned to Columbus last Thursday, leaving him no choice but to either accept the assignment within 72 hours, be placed on the restricted list or choose to retire. But after consultation, the Nats decided instead to recall King and immediately place him on waivers. Once he cleared waivers, he was outrighted to Columbus. As a tenured veteran, King didn't have to accept the assignment, so he chose free agency.

I would suspect another club will pick him up fairly soon. King may have struggled some with the Nats this month, but the guy still can get lefties out, provided he's used strictly as a matchup reliever.