According to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, six teams have checked in on free agent Nick Blackburn.

Blackburn, 31, underwent surgery in August to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and may have to sit out a large chunk of the 2014 season. The Twins made the easy to decision to decline his $8 million option in October. He has a 4.85 career ERA and 1.47 career WHIP.

Nick Blackburn will have season-ending surgery Friday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Blackburn has had right knee issues off and on throughout his career. He'll be a free agent this winter after the Twins decline his $8 million club option.

Nick Blackburn will have his knee examined Wednesday.

It's presumably his right knee, which has given him issues off and on throughout his career. Blackburn has posted a 5.02 ERA over six starts in the minors this season while working his way back from a pair of surgeries on his pitching arm.

Nick Blackburn has been promoted to Triple-A.

Blackburn made five starts between the Twins' Gulf Coast League affiliate and Double-A squad as he works his way back from wrist surgery, posting a 3.80 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. General manager Terry Ryan said it's possible he could make it back up to the big club this season. "He's getting there. His velocity is OK, around 88-90 [mph], I believe," Ryan said. "He's got enough sink. He's got enough velocity. It's going to be [determined by his] location and breaking ball. He used to have an unhittable cutter."

Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said Wednesday that Nick Blackburn (arm) will make his first minor league rehab start Saturday with the team's Gulf Coast League affiliate.

Blackburn, who is making his way back from January wrist surgery, is scheduled to throw 45-50 pitches Saturday. He'll likely join the rotation with Triple-A Rochester once he's back to full health.

Nick Blackburn (arm) will throw in a simulated game Monday.

The hope is that he'll be ready to appear in a game for the Gulf Coast League Twins shortly after that. Recovering from a pair of surgeries on his pitching arm, Blackburn will eventually be added to Triple-A Rochester's rotation.

Nick Blackburn (arm) has resumed playing catch.

Blackburn is recovering from a pair of surgeries on his pitching arm. He'll be assigned to Triple-A Rochester once healthy.

Twins reassigned RHPs Nick Blackburn, Lester Oliveros, Alex Meyer, Bryan Augenstein and Esmerling Vasquez to minor league camp.

No big surprises here. Formerly a fixture in the Twins' rotation, Blackburn has posted a 5.56 ERA and 1.57 WHIP since the start of 2010 and is recovering from a pair of surgeries on his pitching arm.

Nick Blackburn is expected to be sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery on his right forearm last week.

Blackburn had surgery on October 25 to remove a bone chip from his right elbow, but he continued having problems after the procedure, necessitating another operation. While it's possible he could make it back in time for Opening Day, it certainly doesn't help his chances of winning a roster spot. The odds were probably already not good after he posted a 7.39 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 19 starts in 2012.

Nick Blackburn underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow on October 25.

It was a relatively minor procedure, and Blackburn is expected to be 100 percent for spring training. The veteran right-hander will be a non-roster invitee and must impress next spring to earn a spot in the Opening Day rotation. He posted an ugly 7.39 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 19 starts this season.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan said the team is "going on without" Nick Blackburn and it's "up to him to get back in our good graces."

Blackburn was removed from the 40-man roster last month after putting up a 7.39 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 19 starts. Ryan said that the right-hander will be a non-roster invitee to spring training next year. The Twins owe him $5.5 million in the final year of his contract whether he makes the team or not. "He's got enough stuff," Ryan said. "Now it's a matter of using it and getting people out. He's going to have to convince some people that he's going to be a guy here, but he'll get a good look."

Twins sent RHP Nick Blackburn outright to Triple-A Rochester.

The move clears him from the 40-man roster. Blackburn gets the boot after posting an awful 7.39 ERA and 42/26 K/BB ratio in 98 2/3 innings across 19 starts with the Twins this season. Given his remaining salary (which includes $5.5 million in 2013), it's not a big surprise that he cleared waivers.

Nick Blackburn allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings Sunday, taking the loss in Minnesota's 6-4 setback in Boston.

Blackburn struck out four and walked none in falling to 4-7. Blackburn had been quality in two of his past three starts coming into this afternoon, but is still the owner of a horrendous 7.42 ERA and 1.66 WHIP on the season. He remains well off the radar in all formats of fantasy.

Nick Blackburn was superb in a no-decision Tuesday, limiting the White Sox to two runs on five hits and a walk over eight innings.

It's probably his best start of the season and one that certainly came out of nowhere given that he entered the game with a 7.99 ERA this season and was blasted for eight runs by the White Sox his last time out. Despite the encouraging performance, Blackburn can't be trusted this weekend in Boston.

Nick Blackburn threw eight shutout innings Sunday in his first appearance with Triple-A Rochester.

He gave up nine hits and walked none. Blackburn was 4-5 with an 8.10 ERA in 13 starts at the major league level before being demoted. The Twins recalled Cole DeVries to fill his spot in the rotation.

Twins optioned RHP Nick Blackburn to Triple-A Rochester.

Blackburn gave up six runs over four innings Tuesday against the Tigers and now has an ugly 8.10 ERA through 13 starts at the major league level this season. He's been pretty bad, but it's still a bit of a surprising move given how shaky the Twins' rotation is at the moment. The Twins have yet to make a decision about who will fill his spot in the rotation Sunday against the Rangers.

Nick Blackburn was hammered again on Tuesday, yielding six runs in four innings against the Tigers.

He walked one and struck out one. After being staked to a 6-3 lead, Blackburn allowed home runs to Brennan Boesch and Austin Jackson in the fourth inning to even the score. He now owns an atrocious 8.10 ERA through 13 starts on the season and is quickly running out of chances to make an impact at the major league level. If the results aren't better against the Rangers in Texas on Sunday (and that's doubtful with such a brutal matchup), Blackburn may not be long for the Twins rotation.

Nick Blackburn was pounded for six runs in five innings by the White Sox on Wednesday.

Blackburn kept the Twins in it until back-to-back homers from Adam Dunn and Alex Rios accounted for four runs in the fifth. He's now surrendered 13 homers in just 59 1/3 innings on the season, and his ERA stands at 7.74. Still, today's loss was his first since May 6, believe it or not.

Nick Blackburn (quad) will begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.

Blackburn will make two rehab appearances before rejoining the Twins, so he won't be activated when first eligible. Anthony Swarzak is expected to be optioned to the minors once he's able to return.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Friday that Nick Blackburn (quad) could go on a minor league rehab assignment before returning from the disabled list.

Blackburn landed on the disabled list last week with a left quad strain. It's not clear if he'll be ready as soon as he's eligible. Anthony Swarzak will take his place in the starting rotation for now.