Cincinatti ? Reds career saves leader Danny Graves cleared waivers and was released by Cincinnati on Thursday, freeing him to sign with any major-league team.

Graves, once one of the Reds’ most popular players, was jeered after yet another poor performance May 22 and responded with an obscene hand gesture.

General manager Dan O’Brien found limited interest in a trade for the 31-year-old righty, due in part to a contract that guarantees Graves $6.25 million in the final year of his three-year, $17.25 million deal.

Graves had struggled since joining the team’s starting rotation two years ago. His fastball has slowed substantially, and his control has eluded him. Back in the bullpen, the closer was 1-1 with 10 saves and a 7.76 earned-run average this season.

Graves angered fans by criticizing them for booing after the bullpen blew a six-run lead in the ninth inning on May 2, helping St. Louis rally for a 10-9 victory. He was booed loudly at Great American Ball Park every time he came in to pitch after that.

On May 22, he gave up five ninth-inning runs in a 9-2 loss to Cleveland and heard catcalls as he left the field. He was in the dugout several minutes later when a fan in seats nearby taunted him.