Braves signed RHP Yunesky Maya to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Maya was released by the Nationals in November after posting a 5.80 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 59 total major league innings. The 32-year-old from Cuba signed a four-year, $8 million contract in the middle of the 2010 season. He obviously hasn't met the hype.

Nationals released RHP Yunesky Maya.

The 32-year-old Cuban defector has failed to live up to his lofty expectations since coming stateside, registering a 1-5 record, 5.80 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 27/21 K/BB ratio over 59 innings in the majors. He has at least been a serviceable starter at Triple-A Syracuse the past two seasons though, so there should be teams in need of rotation depth that are willing to give him a shot.

Nationals sent RHP Yunesky Maya outright to Triple-A Syracuse.

Maya was designated for assignment by the Nats last Friday and passed through waivers unclaimed. The 31-year-old has a 5.80 ERA in 59 career MLB innings.

Nationals designated RHP Yunesky Maya for assignment.

The move was made to open a spot for Jeff Kobernus on the active roster. The once highly-hyped Cuban defector, the 31-year-old Maya owns a career 5.80 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over 59 major league innings. He's unlikely to attract much interest from other teams.

Nationals recalled RHP Yunesky Maya from Triple-A Syracuse.

Maya has an ugly 5.07 ERA and 34/17 K/BB ratio in 49 2/3 innings over eight starts this season in Triple-A, but the Nationals need a fresh arm for their bullpen. This will be his first stint in the majors since 2011.

Nationals assigned Yunesky Maya to minor league camp.

Maya surrendered three hits, two earned runs and two walks in four Grapefruit League innings this spring. He'll operate as organizational rotation depth this season.

Yunesky Maya didn't work out Tuesday due to illness.

Maya should be back to normal in the next day or two. The 30-year-old right-hander posted a 5.23 ERA over 32 2/3 innings with the Nationals last season and will likely open 2012 in the minors.

Yunesky Maya, currently playing winter ball, has begun experiencing soreness in his elbow.

Maya's Puerto Rican team, Criollos de Caguas, will likely refrain from pitching him again until he's back to 100 percent. The 30-year-old Cuban right-hander posted a disappointing 5.23 ERA in 32 2/3 major league innings this season, but the Nationals still think he has promise.

Nationals optioned RHP Yunesky Maya to Triple-A Syracuse.

Maya held the Mets scoreless over 5 1/3 innings on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to keep his job. He'll head back to the minors having posted a 5.40 ERA in five starts.

Yunesky Maya pitched 5.1 innings of shutout baseball against the Mets, allowing five hits, walking none and striking out none.

Maya injured his oblique running the bases and was only able to record one out in the bottom of the fifth before leaving the game. According to manager Davey Johnson, Maya could be headed to the disabled list. It's a tough break for a pitcher who finally looked to be righting the ship.

Yunesky Maya will start for the Nationals Saturday against the Mets.

Maya was flown to Washington as insurance in case Jason Marquis got traded. Marquis was shipped to Arizona Saturday afternoon, meaning Maya will take the mound in his place. The once-heralded Cuban has been a major disappointment this season, posting a 6.86 ERA in four major league starts.

The Nationals will fly Yunesky Maya to Washington as insurance in case Jason Marquis is traded.

Marquis is scheduled to start against the Mets Saturday, but his name has been involved in trade rumors and it's possible he'll be dealt either before the game or scratched because a potential trade is close. Maya was terrible for the Nats earlier this season and has a 5.32 ERA in 16 starts for Triple-A Syracuse. He can be ignored for fantasy purposes.

Yunesky Maya allowed seven runs in a three-inning start Monday with Triple-A Syracuse.

The 29-year-old Cuban now has a 5.32 ERA in 16 starts for Syracuse. Maya was expected to play a role in the Nationals' rotation this season, but he hasn't been able to cut it against Triple-A talent and won't arrive back in the majors anytime soon.

Nationals optioned RHP Yunesky Maya to Triple-A Syracuse.

He was cleared to make room for Collin Balester on the active roster. Tom Gorzelanny is likely to be activated from the disabled list this weekend, so Maya was going to be the odd-man out, even before his dud of an outing on Tuesday night against the Cardinals. The Cuban right-hander heads back to the minors with an ugly 6.86 ERA and 10/8 K/BB ratio over four starts.

Yunesky Maya yielded just one run over six innings in a no-decision against the Giants on Wednesday.

It was rather surprising the Nationals opted to stick with Maya after his lack of success his first two times out, but he remained in the rotation and turned in a nice outing today, even though he managed just one strikeout. He'll probably make at least one more start before Tom Gorzelanny returns.

Yunesky Maya surrendered four runs in 4 1/3 innings Friday in a loss to the Nationals.

Tom Gorzelanny is expected back in five days anyway, so Maya will probably be optioned back to Triple-A after this one. Even if Gorzelanny did experience a setback, the Nationals could want to try someone new; Maya has allowed eight runs in nine innings in his two spot starts.

Yunesky Maya turned in a poor spot-start against the Padres on Sunday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings of a Nationals loss.

He struck out three. Seeing as he could not tame even the Padres, Maya isn't worth a look in NL-only leagues while he fills in for Tom Gorzelanny in the Nationals rotation.

Nationals optioned RHP Yunesky Maya to Triple-A Syracuse.

Maya pitched pretty well this spring, posting a 3.29 ERA and 10 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings, but he never had a real shot of cracking the rotation. Instead, the Cuban defector will serve as starter insurance at Triple-A.

Yunesky Maya was credited with a victory after yielding just an unearned run over four innings Saturday against the Yankees.

There's been little so far to suggest that John Lannan's spot is in any jeopardy, but Mays is making a case to sneak into the rotation in place of one of the two left-handers -- either Lannan or Tom Gorzelanny. He has a 1.04 ERA so far.

Yunesky Maya pitched two scoreless innings and struck out three in relief Wednesday versus Florida.

Maya may have been the favorite to serve as the Nationals' fifth starter before the Tom Gorzelanny acquisition. The Cuban defector could still stick as a middle reliever, but he might open the season at the top of the Triple-A rotation.