The Red Sox have claimed right-handed pitcher Taylor Buchholz off waivers from the Blue Jays. Buchholz was 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in nine relief outings with the Rockies and Blue Jays last season. Taylor Buchholz is not related to Boston starter Clay Buchholz.

The Athletics have claimed third baseman Edwin Encarnacion off waivers from the Blue Jays. The move appears to put Kevin Kouzmanoff's job in jeopardy. Encarnacion batted .244 with 21 home runs and 51 RBIs in 96 games with the Blue Jays last year.

The Nationals secured outright waivers on left-handers Scott Olsen and Jesse English on Saturday. Olsen elected to become a free agent and is not expected to be back with the team after two disappointing seasons. Although English was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse, he will become a Minor League free agent at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The Mets were forced to release reliever Hisanori Takahashi on Friday after the sides failed to agree to a new contract, according to an Associated Press report. Takahashi was 10-6 with eight saves and a 3.61 ERA in 12 starts and 41 relief appearances last season.

The Royals have claimed infielder Lance Zawadzki on outright waivers from the Padres. In order to create space on the Major League 40-man roster, the Royals assigned outfielder Jai Miller outright to Omaha. Miller will become a minor league free agent at 4 pm CT tomorrow. Zawadzki, 25, received his first taste of the big leagues in 2010, appearing in 20 games for the Padres in May and June and hitting .200 (7-for-35) with two doubles, an RBI, four runs, five walks and a stolen base.

The Royals have claimed infielder Joaquin Arias on outright waivers from the Mets. With the claim, the Royals now have 40 players on the Major League roster. Arias, 26, split the 2010 campaign between the Rangers and Mets organizations. The 6-foot-1 right-handed hitter and thrower opened the season with the A.L. Champion Rangers as a reserve infielder and hit .276 (27-for-98) with five doubles, one triple, nine RBI and 18 runs scored in 50 games. The Mets acquired Arias on August 31 in a trade that sent outfielder Jeff Francoeur to Texas. Arias played in 22 games for New York, batting .200 (6-for-30). The versatile infielder, whose primary position is shortstop, played each infield position in 2010 in addition to appearing once in left field. Arias is a career .276 hitter in 257 Major League games since making his debut for Texas in 2006.