WEDNESDAY: Kansas City has given Ohlendorf his release rather than adding him to the 40-man, MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan tweets.

MONDAY: Veteran righty Ross Ohlendorf has opted out of his minor-league deal with the Royals, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick tweets. The Royals now have 48 hours to place Ohlendorf on their roster or release him.

Ohlendorf is one of several players fighting for what would could be one bullpen spot, with Wade Davis, Joakim Soria, Kelvin Herrera, Luke Hochevar, and perhaps Danny Duffy and the recently-rostered Dillon Gee all likely to win jobs. Chien-Ming Wang has thrown hard and gotten good results so far this spring, and could have the inside track on a spot as well. Ohlendorf has pitched eight innings in Spring Training and allowed six runs, although he’s struck out nine and walked only three.

The 33-year-old Ohlendorf fared well in 19 1/3 innings of relief with the Rangers in 2015, posting a 3.72 ERA, 8.8 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 while throwing considerably harder than he had in much of his earlier big-league career, most of which he had spent as a starter. He’s the veteran of eight big-league seasons, also playing for the Yankees, Pirates, Padres and Nationals.