Sammy

Solis

Solis presumably exercised an opt-out in his minor league agreement with San Diego. He had posted a decent 3.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 28/8 K/BB ratio over 22 2/3 innings of relief this season at Triple-A El Paso. The left-hander should quickly land with a new organization.

Solis was given his release by the Nationals over the weekend. The 30-year-old owns a 4.51 ERA over 141 relief appearances in the majors and will give the Padres some extra depth with Jose Castillo sidelined.

Richard Justice of MLB.com reported the news. Solis spent the last four seasons with the Nationals, compiling a career 4.51 ERA in 141 relief outings. Last year was pretty brutal for Solis -- he notched a 6.41 ERA in 56 games. He managed to strike out 44 batters in 39 1/3 innings but also walked 18 and surrendered seven homers.

There had been some speculation that Solis could be non-tendered after a rough last two seasons, but obviously that’s not the case. He’ll compete for a bullpen job in spring training.

Solis was shut down during the Arizona Fall League due to elbow soreness, so the Nationals are curious to see how he’ll respond as he builds up his workload at accelerated minor-league camp. “We had him rest over the winter. We shut him down,” said Rizzo. “And now we’ll ramp him up and see what happens. So there’s a little question.” The 23-year-old left-hander posted a 3.26 ERA and 93/23 K/BB ratio over 96 2/3 innings last season between Class A Hagerstown and High-A Potomac and was recently ranked as the organization’s No. 8 prospect by Baseball America.

Solis first began experiencing discomfort in his throwing elbow while pitching in the Arizona Fall League and was unable to get through a routine side session this week. The 23-year-old left-hander posted a 3.26 ERA and 93/23 K/BB ratio in 96 2/3 innings last season between two levels of Single-A and was recently ranked as the organization’s No. 8 prospect by Baseball America.

As expected. The surgery will be performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Lewis Yocum, who was also the surgeon for Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. Solis, who was recently ranked as the Nationals’ No. 8 prospect by Baseball America, will be shelved until the 2013 season.

Solis experienced discomfort in his elbow while pitching in the Arizona Fall League. He is expected to be examined once he’s recovered from his current illness. The 23-year-old left-hander posted a 3.26 ERA and 93/23 K/BB ratio over 96 2/3 innings this season between Class A Hagerstown and High-A Potomac and was recently ranked as the organization’s No. 8 prospect by Baseball America.

“We don’t have a final diagnosis for him but we’re concerned enough to send him to two doctors,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. The GM isn’t ready to talk about Tommy John surgery yet, but he didn’t rule it out, either. “We’re not going to Tommy John yet,” Rizzo added. “That’s way down the road — but there is concern, yes. Whenever you have elbow soreness, it’s concerning.” Solis, who was recently ranked as the No. 8 prospect in the Nationals system by Baseball America, is likely ticketed for Double-A to start the year if he doesn’t have to get operated on.

The injury isn’t a major concern, but Solis missed all of 2012 due to Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old left hander has a 3.38 ERA over four starts with the Nationals’ High-A affiliate.