Shawn Kelley frustrated with being labeled 'selfish' after glove throw

Shawn Kelley was caught off guard by the Washington Nationals' decision to designate him for assignment Wednesday after he threw his glove on the mound and stared into the dugout while pitching in a 25-4 blowout win the night before.

"It just happened quick," Kelley told Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post. "I was a little surprised by it, I guess."

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he considered Kelley's actions "selfish" and it wasn't something he could ignore.

Kelley said that assessment is inaccurate and that's what bothers him the most.

"What my real frustration was, I had no disrespect or selfishness or not even really an issue pitching in that game," Kelley said. "Whatever their opinion it is, I hate to be seen as a guy that was showing up his manager or selfish because I've played 10 years and I've never been that guy. So I don't think I'd start now. It's an unfortunate set of circumstances, but it is what it is, so I'll move on and make the best of it."

The Nationals have four more days to try to trade Kelley or release him. If they have to release him, they'll be forced to pay out the roughly $2 million remaining on his deal. There should be outside interest in the right-hander, who has posted a 3.34 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings this season.