Grant Balfour threw a bullpen session Sunday and reported no issues with his right oblique.

Balfour landed on the disabled list in late June with a right oblique strain. If everything stays on track, he could return just before the All-Star break. The 33-year-old right-hander is likely going to be shopped later this month.

Athletics placed RHP Grant Balfour on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 22, with a right oblique strain.

Balfour hasn't pitched since last Tuesday against the Mets. The 33-year-old right-hander has an outstanding 2.48 ERA to go along with 35 strikeouts over 32 2/3 innings this season, so he figures to be a trade candidate once he returns from the disabled list.

Grant Balfour sat out for a third consecutive game Sunday due to a right oblique strain.

The A's may be forced to place Balfour on the disabled list if he is unable to return to action before the middle of this week. The setup man has registered a superb 2.48 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings this season.

Grant Balfour (oblique) thinks he's probably unavailable to pitch Sunday.

The A's are calling Balfour day-to-day due to a right oblique strain, but an oblique injury is always something that could wind up sending a player to the DL. The right-hander has posted a 2.48 ERA with 35 strikeouts over 32 2/3 innings this season.

Grant Balfour is day-to-day with a right oblique injury.

He may or may not be available for Saturday night's game against Phillies. Balfour has put together a solid season for the Athletics so far this season posting a 2.48 ERA over 32 2/3. He's racked up 35 strikeouts.

A's activated RHP Grant Balfour from the paternity-leave list.

As expected. Balfour will slide back into a setup role for Andrew Bailey.

Grant Balfour (paternity leave) remains on schedule to rejoin the A's on Sunday.

After the A's bullpen threw 6 2/3 innings on Saturday, they could certainly use him. Barring something unforseen happening, Balfour will be back and is likely to pitch on Sunday.

Athletics placed RHP Grant Balfour on paternity-leave list.

He should be back with the A's by Monday at the latest, and could return sooner. Fautino De Los Santos will take his place in the bullpen while he is away from the team.

Grant Balfour earned the win in relief as the A's beat the Angels 5-4 in 10 innings on Monday.

Balfour struck out the side in a scoreless top of the 10th before Fernando Rodney gave the A's the game in the bottom of the inning. Kurt Suzuki and Conor Jackson walked back-to-back to begin the frame and then advanced on a wild pitch before Suzuki scored the winning run on a fielder's choice. Balfour has three wins and a save while serving as the top right-hander in Oakland's pen in Andrew Bailey's absence.

With Brian Fuentes getting a night off, Grant Balfour pitched a scoreless ninth and earned his first save for the A's on Wednesday.

Balfour struck out two and walked one. Fuentes is struggling of late, so Balfour might be good for another save or two before Andrew Bailey returns.

Athletics signed RHP Grant Balfour to a two-year, $8.1 million contract.

A steal of a deal for the A's, who have watched competitors commit crazy contracts to setup men all offseason long. Balfour turned in a gorgeous 2.28 ERA and 56/17 K/BB ratio over 55-plus innings for the Rays last season and has been posting those kind of numbers for many years now. He will serve as excellent ninth-inning insurance in case Andrew Bailey goes down.

Grant Balfour's deal with Oakland is worth $8.1 million over two years and is pending a physical, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney.

Viewed in terms of the ridiculous relief market this offseason, this seems like a reasonable deal. Balfour produced a 2.28 ERA and 56/17 K/BB ratio over 55 1/3 innings with the Rays in 2010 and was 13-7 with a 2.98 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 181 innings over the past three years in Tampa. He's a Type A free agent and will net Tampa Bay a supplementary first round pick as well as Oakland's second round selection. We see Balfour as a spectacular setup man going forward for Oakland closer Andrew Bailey.

The A's and reliever Grant Balfour are close to agreement on a multi-year deal, a source told FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi.

Financial terms have not yet been released for the Type A free agent. Since Oakland's first-round pick is protected, Tampa Bay will get their second rounder as well as a supplementary first round pick. Balfour, 33, posted a strong 2.28 ERA and 56/17 K/BB ratio over 55 1/3 innings with the Rays last season and should be an elite setup man for closer Andrew Bailey with the A's.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com suggests that the Rays could offer Grant Balfour a one-year deal with an assurance that they will not offer him arbitration next offseason.

Just because Olney writes it doesn't mean it will happen, but this could be a beneficial scenario for both sides. The Rays currently need a closer and while the offers for Balfour have been hard to come by this winter due to his Type A status, he could be a big winner next offseason.

ESPN.com's Buster Olney heard from sources Tuesday that Grant Balfour is beginning to lower his asking price.

Spring training opens in just over a month and Balfour probably wants to be signed, sealed and delivered by the time most relievers are reporting to camp. He was drawing heavy interest from the Orioles, but they inked Kevin Gregg to a contract earlier this month. Balfour, 33, posted a strong 2.28 ERA and 56/17 K/BB ratio over 55 1/3 innings with the Rays last season, but his status as a Type A free agent has driven many potential suitors away.

According to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, the Orioles have "definite interest" in Grant Balfour.

While the Orioles have also been connected to Kevin Gregg as a potential closer, they view Balfour as a set-up man. Balfour, who turns 33 on Thursday, posted a 2.28 ERA and 56/17 K/BB ratio over 55 1/3 innings with the Rays this season. He would have been much more popular this winter if it wasn't for his Type A free agent designation. Signing Balfour would cost the O's their second-round draft pick.

Grant Balfour has declined an offer of arbitration from the Rays.

Balfour is a Type A free agent and could really struggle to find a suitor despite the excellent 2.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.1 K/9 that he posted over 55 1/3 innings for the Rays this year. If he does find a deal elsewhere, he will net Tampa Bay a compensatory first round draft pick.

Grant Balfour could accept the Rays' arbitration offer.

Balfour would like to return to Tampa, and he's worried that his status as a Type A free agent might limit his appeal on the market. The right-hander posted a nifty 2.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.1 K/9 rate over 55 1/3 innings this past season for the Rays.

Grant Balfour (ribs) is expected to throw a simulated game Wednesday.

Balfour tossed a scoreless inning with Single-A Charlotte on Monday night, so he's pretty close to returning. If he gets through Wednesday's outing without a hitch, look for him to be activated later this week.

Grant Balfour tossed a scoreless inning with Single-A Charlotte on Monday night.

Much better. After getting hammered for three runs on two hits and three walks on Saturday, he retired all three batters in succession Monday. He should be activated when rosters expand on Wednesday.