Padres optioned RHP Pat Neshek to Triple-A Tucson.

Neshek has a 2.25 ERA while striking out seven in his eight innings with the Padres, but he gets the boot with Wade LeBlanc coming up for a spot start. He should be back before long.

Padres claimed RHP Pat Neshek off waivers from Twins.

It's a worthwhile risk for the Padres and a good landing place for the side-armed righty. Neshek missed the 2009 season with Tommy John surgery and made just 11 appearances with the Twins in 2010. Prior to surgery, however, Neshek was 11-5 with a 2.91 ERA and 142/37 K/BB ratio in 120 2/3 career innings. The 30-year-old wasn't going to make the Twins Opening Day roster and, despite having an option left, the club decided it preferred to jettison him from the 40-man roster rather than option him to Triple-A.

Pat Neshek served up homers to both Ryan Raburn and Miguel Cabrera in his inning agains the Tigers on Thursday.

Unfortunately, Neshek still hasn't regained his old velocity following Tommy John surgery, and it just doesn't seem likely that he'll be a successful reliever for the Twins while throwing 85-88 mph. He's probably going to open the season in Triple-A.

Twins and RHP Pat Neshek avoided arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $625,000 contract.

He'll take home the same salary he made this past season. Neshek, who missed entire 2009 season following Tommy John surgery, suffered an injury to his right middle finger in April and ended up making just 11 appearances with the big club in 2010. If Neshek is finally healthy next season, he could be an important part of what will likely be a revamped bullpen.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is hoping to see more velocity in the future than what Pat Neshek showed Tuesday in his first game back from the disabled list.

"About the same, except the velocity wasn't quite there,'' Gardenhire said. "He was 85 [miles per hour] the other day. We [heard] 88-89 [while he was at Triple-A Rochester].'' Neshek could be a valuable member of the team's bullpen down the stretch if he can rediscover the pep on his fastball.

Twins recalled RHP Pat Neshek from Triple-A Rochester.

Neshek has not appeared in a major league game since April because of inflammation in his right middle finger. Now healthy, he's expected to serve a middle relief role for the Twins down the stretch. The righty posted a 3.89 ERA and 25/6 K/BB ratio in 30 appearances this year for Triple-A Rochester.

The Twins are expected to recall right-hander Pat Neshek and left-hander Glen Perkins on Tuesday.

Neshek hasn't pitched with the Twins since late-April due to an injury to his middle finger. He has a 3.89 ERA and 25/6 K/BB ratio in 30 relief appearances with Triple-A Rochester. Perkins posted a 9.00 ERA over four appearances with the Twins last month. The 27-year-old southpaw has a 5.81 in 26 games (24 starts) with Triple-A Rochester this season. Both pitchers will be used in relief.

Twins activated RHP Pat Neshek from the 15-day disabled list; optioned him to Triple-A Rochester.

Neshek still has some work to do before the Twins will feel comfortable bringing him back to the majors. The 29-year-old right-hander has been sidelined with inflammation in his right middle finger since April 28 and had a 4.19 ERA in 4 1/3 innings of relief before the injury.

Pat Neshek (finger) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Single-A Fort Myers on Wednesday.

He's scheduled to throw one inning. Neshek has been sidelined since April 28 due to inflammation in his right middle finger. It's not known how long he'll need in the minors before he is activated.

Pat Neshek threw a bullpen session and reported no pain afterwards.

He's eligible to come off the disabled list whenever the Twins feel like activating him, so they must feel as though he's not fully healthy yet. Neshek is expected to thrown another session on Sunday, perhaps leading up to an activation next week.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire talked with Pat Neshek (hand) in regards to the way he disclosed the misdiagnosis of his injury on Facebook and Twitter.

Gardenhire recalled the conversation to Kelly Thesier of MLB.com: "Our doctors are here to help you and get you better. They put in a lot of effort and their time to do that. They don't deserve to be thrown under any kind of bus. If you have something to say, say it to me or to the doctors and not on the Tweeter." We have a new favorite for quote of the week. As for Neshek, he is currently rehabbing his hand injury in Minnesota and played catch earlier this week. There's no clear timetable for his return, though he may stay at Triple-A once he's healthy to get some work in.

An MRI on Tuesday revealed that Pat Neshek was misdiagnosed with finger inflammation.

The results showed inflammation in the palm pulley tendon, not the finger, which would explain why the injury failed to respond to a cortisone shot on April 18. Neshek was instructed to rest the hand and finger as much as possible, and he will likely be given another cortisone shot sometime next week. He is eligible to return from the disabled list on May 12, but the recent diagnosis means he is unlikely to return to the team until the end of the month.

Twins place RHP Pat Neshek on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 29 with finger inflamation.

Neshek missed 10 days due to the injury, but will now go on the disabled list after just one appearance last week. This will further tax the Twins' bullpen, which seems to be getting thinner by the day. There's no word on a replacement yet, but Anthony Slama well could be on his way to Minneapolis soon.

Pat Neshek said his right middle finger didn't bother him during a brief outing on Thursday.

"That's the best it's felt out there," said Neshek, who missed 10 days to the injury earlier this month. "It felt good. I just didn't have the command, and it was one of those off nights. I felt I made a couple good pitches there, the first couple. I just didn't get the call and then everything was up." In total, Neshek threw eight pitches on Wednesday, but only one of them was a strike.

Pat Neshek returned to action on Saturday April 24.

Pat Neshek (finger) was cleared to pitch after throwing another bullpen session on Thursday.

Neshek hasn't pitched since April 14 due to soreness in his right middle finger, but he would be available in an emergency situation on Thursday. That being said, he's more likely to return to action on Friday.

Pat Neshek played catch on Wednesday and could throw a bullpen session on Thursday.

The Twins are trying their hardest to keep Neshak off the DL for some reason. He hasn't pitched since April 14.

Pat Neshek did not throw on Tuesday due to continued soreness in his right middle finger.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said the club will wait to see how he's feeling in the next couple days. Neshek hasn't appeared in a game since April 14, so they'd risk little by placing him on the disabled list for a week or so if things don't improve quickly.

Twins manager Rod Gardenhire said that Pat Neshek could be headed to the DL if his right middle finger does not improve.

Neshek is dealing with a "tender" flexor in the finger. It's a tough break for Neshek because he was looking good in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Pat Neshek has a tender flexor in the middle finger on his throwing hand.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire says Neshek "should be fine," however he will not throw today. The 29-year-old right-hander has 3 2/3 scoreless innings under his belt this season.