WASHINGTON -- The Nationals outrighted reliever Ray King to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, but King elected free agency instead.

The Nationals recalled King from Columbus on Saturday and then placed him on waivers. King had until Tuesday for a team to pick him up.

King, 34, last pitched on Wednesday against the Mets, giving up two runs in two-thirds of an inning. For the season, he pitched in 12 games and gave up four runs in 6 1/3 innings.