The Nationals have placed outfielder Wily Mo Pena on waivers, and decided to keep the contract of first baseman Dmitri Young. Opposing teams have three days to claim Pena and pick up his $2 million salary. If not, Washington could outright him to Triple-A Syracuse or he could ask for his release. "I think he needs to go down there to get his everyday at-bats and reps in the outfield," assistant general manager Mike Rizzo said. "He needs to prove, not only to the Nationals but 29 other clubs, that he is a viable Major League force."

The Brewers cut Trot Nixon on Wednesday. "That's tough for me," Macha said. "The four years I managed in the minor leagues, he was a player on my team. When you're a minor-league manager, what you should do is put your heart and soul into getting a guy developed, to the big leagues. I explained to him his career has meant as much to me as it has him because he spent so much time with me and I'm proud to say he was a player for me in the minor leagues because of his professionalism and the career he has had. "(But) he hasn't had a very good spring." Nixon hit .105 with a homer and three RBI in 38 at-bats this spring.

Yhency Brazoban, who developed into a hard-throwing closer after his acquisition from the Yankees in the Kevin Brown trade in 2003, did not show this spring that he could recover from elbow and shoulder operations and was released by the Dodgers. In 2005, he saved 21 games as a fill-in for the injured Eric Gagne while appearing in 74. But he needed Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery in 2006 and shoulder labrum surgery in 2007.

The Mets have claimed pitcher Fernando Nieve off waivers from the Astros. Nieve was 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA this spring, allowing six earned runs over 4 2/3 innings.