Jose Lobaton (shin) is back in Tuesday's lineup against the Dodgers.

Lobaton missed back-to-back starts with a bruised shin, but it was never a major concern. He'll bat eighth Tuesday against Clayton Kershaw.

Jose Lobaton (shin) is out of the lineup for the second straight day Monday.

Lobaton was hit in the shin by a pitch during Saturday's game and is dealing with some soreness. He's available if needed Monday, but the Nationals would likely prefer resting him for another day.

Nationals acquired C Jose Lobaton, LHP Felipe Rivero, and OF Drew Vettleson from the Rays for RHP Nate Karns.

The Rays and Nats worked on this trade for over a month and finally found a four-player match on Thursday. Lobaton, 29, hit .249/.320/.394 with seven home runs and 32 RBI in 100 games last season for Tampa Bay. He became expendable when the Rays acquired Ryan Hanigan and will likely serve as Washington's backup catcher in 2014.

Jose Lobaton has been traded to the Nationals.

The Rays are also sending two minor leaguers to Washington in the deal and getting 26-year-old right-hander Nate Karns in return. Lobaton, 29, batted .249/.320/.394 with seven home runs and 32 RBI in 100 games last season for Tampa Bay. He will serve as a semi-active backup to Nationals starting catcher Wilson Ramos.

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays and Nationals are again having serious discussions about a trade involving catcher Jose Lobaton.

The Rays and Nationals have been discussing a trade for Jose Lobaton "for at least a month," MLB.com's Bill Ladson reports.

The Nationals were one of the teams listed as suitors for the backup catcher by the Tampa Bay Times, and their interest seems to be both legitimate and sustained. Wilson Ramos is the Nats' everyday catcher, but he missed time due to hamstring issues last season and the team has little in the way of a suitable backup after the departure of Kurt Suzuki. Lobaton hit .249 with seven home runs and 32 RBI in 100 games with the Rays in 2013.

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, trade talks involving Jose Lobataon are "picking up."

The Rays re-signed Jose Molina over the winter and acquired Ryan Hanigan from the Reds, so the assumption is that Lobaton will be moved before the start of the season. Topkin writes that the Diamondbacks, Indians, Rockies, White Sox, Mets, and Nationals are among the clubs who have interest or have a need behind the plate. The 29-year-old hit .249/.320/.394 with seven home runs and 32 RBI in 100 games last season.

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Rays are "still having talks about trading" Jose Lobaton.

It was reported by Topkin in December that the Rays were talking to the White Sox about a deal involving Lobaton. The club is willing to bring him to camp, but with a $950,000 salary and no room for him on the roster, Lobaton seems likely to be in another organization before Opening Day. The backstop batted .249/.320/.394 with seven homers for the Rays in 2013.

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times hears that Jose Lobaton could be headed to the White Sox.

Topkin is still waiting for confirmation, but Lobaton is expendable now that the Rays have Jose Molina and Ryan Hanigan. Chicago is another crowded situation, as the club has Josh Phegley and Tyler Flowers in-house.

The Rays kept their season alive Monday thanks to a Jose Lobaton pinch-hit, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning versus the Red Sox.

Manager Joe Maddon chose to lose the designated hitter spot in the eighth inning when Wil Myers left with cramps, as Matt Joyce shifted to right field. As it turned out, Lobaton wound up pinch-hitting in Myers' spot and delivered with a deep drive over the right-center field wall off of Red Sox closer Koji Uehara. Evan Longoria also had a huge homer in the contest, blasting a three-run shot in the fifth to tie things up. The Rays will send Jeremy Hellickson to the hill against Jake Peavy on Tuesday.

Jose Lobaton (elbow) is available to play Wednesday against the Yankees.

Lobaton left Tuesday's game with a sore elbow related that was affecting his throwing. Fortunately for the Rays, it's not a major concern.

Jose Lobaton played the role of hero against the Blue Jays on Friday, delivering a one-out RBI triple to propel the Rays to a 5-4 walkoff victory.

Lobaton also got the Rays on the board with an RBI single in the third inning, finishing the night 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Not known for his offensive prowess, he's been a borderline option in deep two-catcher formats this season, hitting .255/.317/.387 with four homers and 22 RBI.

Jose Lobaton, who entered the day with a .188 average and slugging percentage this spring, went 3-for-3 and hit his first homer Saturday against the Twins.

Lobaton has been penciled into the backup catcher role since he's out of options, yet we'd be quite surprise if he didn't clear waivers if the Rays went that route. The Rays just aren't going to get much offensively from their catchers again this year.

Jose Lobaton went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer and four RBI in Wednesday's rout of the Orioles.

Lobaton "plated" a run with a first-inning HBP before taking Matt Lindstrom deep for a three-run bomb in the fifth. The blast was his first of the season, and first in 59 career major-league games. Needless to say, he's about as far off the fantasy radar as one can get.

Rays activated C Jose Lobaton from the 15-day disabled list.

Lobaton missed over a month with soreness in his right (throwing) shoulder. The 27-year-old catcher was batting .200/.333/.300 through his first 12 plate appearances this season. He carries no fantasy value.

Jose Lobaton (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment Saturday with High-A Charlotte.

Lobaton has been sidelined since mid-April due to right shoulder soreness. It's not clear how much time he'll spend on his rehab assignment.

Jose Lobaton (shoulder) hopes to resume throwing in the next few days.

Lobaton was placed on the disabled list last weekend with right shoulder soreness. He underwent an MRI on Monday which revealed only inflammation. Chris Gimenez will continue to serve as Jose Molina's backup for now.

Rays placed C Jose Lobaton on the 15-day disabled list due to soreness in his right shoulder.

Chris Gimenez has been activated from the Triple-A DL and recalled to take Lobaton's place on the active roster.

The Tampa Bay Times expects Jose Lobaton (shoulder) to be placed on the disabled list barring ''dramatic improvement.''

Jose Lobaton (shoulder) expects to avoid a trip to the disabled list.

However, Lobaton concedes he may be forced to miss "a few" games. Jose Molina's backup, Lobaton's next scheduled start is not until Sunday. Lobaton is off-the-radar in AL-only leagues.