Valverde has been suspended 80 games for testing positive for the performance enhancing drug Stanozolol, ESPN New York's Adam Rubin reports.

Considering Valverde is a free agent, this should effectively end his big league career, as any team that signs him would need to allow him to serve his suspension before he could begin pitching in games.

The Nationals released Valverde on Wednesday, CSN's Mark Zuckerman reports.

Valverde has thrown the ball well with Triple-A Syracuse this season, posting a 2.39 ERA and recording 10 saves in 27 appearances, but that was still not enough to convince the Nationals to call him up, so they decided to allow him to pursue a big league opportunity elsewhere. It remains to be seen if Valverde will land a major league contract, but he figures to join a new team in the near future.

Valverde agreed to a minor league contract with the Nationals on Wednesday, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

Valverde was released by the Padres early in April despite a strong spring training. He'll likely wind up at Triple-A to begin, but he could work his way into the bullpen should he perform well and injuries occur.

Velverde has opted out of his minor league contract and was granted his release by the Padres on Thursday, MLB.com's Corey Brock reports.

Valverde limited opponents to a .222 batting average this spring, but it wasn't quite enough to earn a roster spot after entering camp as a non-roster invite. The 37-year-old reliever may have another season or two of ball left in him, but he'll likely have to accept a team-friendly deal to keep his career afloat.

Valverde struck out the side in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday against Colorado.

San Diego took a flier on the veteran closer this offseason and Valverde is battling for a roster spot. According to MLB.com's Corey Brock, Valverde has impressed the Padres' coaching staff this spring. It's still no guarantee that he'll make the big league roster out of camp, however.

Valverde has signed a minor-league deal with the Padres, Adam Rubin of ESPN reports.

Barring a return to form and a series of unfortunate events in the San Diego bullpen, Valverde isn't going to close or even set the table this season. Valverde hasn't had an ERA below 5 since 2012 and would have to light up spring training to see the majors any time soon.

Mets released RHP Jose Valverde.

Jose Valverde earned his first win of the season after pitching a scoreless 14th inning on Sunday.

After being removed from the closer's role on Saturday, Valverde was called on to keep the game tied Sunday afternoon. He allowed a single but was otherwise spotless, and he was rewarded for his work when the Mets pushed a run across in the bottom half of the inning. He'll need a lot more days like that before he inserts his name back into the Mets' closer discussion.

According to ESPN New York's Adam Rubin, the Mets are likely to make a change at closer.

Valverde surrendered three runs Saturday against the Braves in his latest of a string of rough outings. Mets manager Terry Collins said he would address his players before making an official announcement to the media. Vic Black has been putting up zeroes at Triple-A, but his control is still an issue. The Mets might go with a committee.

Mets manager Terry Collins said he's sticking with Jose Valverde as his closer.

Collins was pressed about his closer situation after Valverde allowed two home runs in the ninth inning of Wednesday's win over the Diamondbacks. It was the second straight outing in which Valverde served up a homer, and he's allowed five runs over his past two appearances. The 36-year-old may still be the go-to guy for now, but his leash can't be too terribly long at this point.

Jose Valverde allowed two solo home runs in a non-save situation during Wednesday's win over the Diamondbacks.

Called on to protect a five-run lead, the closer promptly served up back-to-back jacks to Aaron Hill and Paul Goldschmidt before escaping without further damage. The idea that he wasn't sharp because it wasn't a save situation might apply under different circumstances, but Valverde was beat up by the Angels his last time out as well. This carriage might be quickly turning back into a pumpkin.

Jose Valverde blew a save by giving up a three-run homer to the Angels' Raul Ibanez in the ninth inning Saturday.

There's the Valverde we know and love. He had pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, so he was really saving up for this one. The Mets will hope it's not a sign of things to come, but with Valverde, who really knows? Gonzalez Germen's stock is on the rise.

Jose Valverde retired all three Braves he faced for his second save on Thursday.

Valverde put the splitter back into his arsenal tonight, throwing three of them among his seven pitches. He ended up getting two popups, including one on the splitter (ironically, on the worst of them that he threw), and he then struck out Jason Heyward with a fastball to end it. If Valverde regains his splitter, he'll have a much better chance of surviving as the Mets' closer. The pitcher has been a non-factor for him for about 2 1/2 years now, though.

Jose Valverde made it interesting in Tuesday's win over the Braves, loading the bases before escaping without incident in the Mets' 4-0 win.

Valverde was brought in to hold down a four-run lead but instead gave up two straight singles. After a fielder's choice, the right-hander then compounded his struggles with a throwing error that loaded the bases with one out. Gerald Laird proceeded to pop out and a Jason Heyward fly ball fell short of the seats, allowing Valverde to exhale. The shaky outing did little to cement his spot as the Mets' closer, but he's still got the gig for now.

The Mets plan to evaluate internal options, including Jose Valverde, to address their closer situation without Bobby Parnell.

Parnell will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, ending his season. Jose Valverde, with 287 career saves and the veteran of a very young bullpen, is the Mets' initial option and appears to be the leading candidate for most of the team's save opportunities. As a result, Valverde should be picked up in all fantasy formats.

Mets manager Terry Collins confirmed Wednesday that Jose Valverde will fill in as the team's closer.

Bobby Parnell is out with a torn medial collateral ligament and could be facing season-ending Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. That gives Valverde significant fantasy value (for as long as he can hold the job). The 36-year-old right-hander had a rough 5.49 ERA in 19 1/3 innings last season for Detroit.

Jose Valverde is expected to serve as the Mets' closer with Bobby Parnell (elbow) sidelined.

This could be more of a statement about the Mets' bullpen than anything else, but Valverde looks like the best option now that Parnell is headed to the disabled list. Though, to his credit, the 36-year-old looked solid in the spring and struck out three batters over 1 1/3 innings on Opening Day against the Nationals. He's a must-own in all fantasy formats for now, but we're still not convinced he has much left in the tank. The Mets could eventually look to Vic Black, Jeurys Familia, or Gonzalez Germen if it turns out that Parnell needs surgery. It's even possible that they could sign a free agent like Joel Hanrahan. In other words, don't look at Valverde as a long-term option for your fantasy team.

Jose Valverde struck out three batters over 1 1/3 scoreless innings Monday against the Nationals.

His appearance came an inning before Bobby Parnell blew the first save of the 2014 MLB season. Valverde is next-in-line for ninth-inning opportunities behind Parnell, who has had trouble finding his fastball velocity. Stash the veteran right-hander in fantasy leagues.

Jose Valverde could see some save opportunities early in the season as Bobby Parnell returns from neck surgery.

Parnell is the Mets' undisputed closer, but Mets manager Terry Collins has expressed some concern about using Parnell three straight days. Valverde, who made the team as a non-roster invitee, would be first in line for those saves. Otherwise, the 36-year-old will serve as the team's primary setup man.

Mets purchased the contract of RHP Jose Valverde from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Valverde was a non-roster invitee this spring, but he appears to be the likely primary set-up man for Bobby Parnell now that Vic Black will begin the year in the minors. The veteran right-hander owns a 3.00 ERA and 7/1 K/BB ratio over nine innings this spring. We're skeptical, but the Mets are hoping that he still has something left in the tank.