RHP Casey Janssen reportedly signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox pending a physical.

RHP Casey Janssen was released by the San Diego Padres on Thursday. Janssen, 34, was informed he wasn't going to make the Opening Day roster and he requested to be released. Janssen, who was a nonroster invitee, allowed four runs on 12 hits over seven spring innings. Janssen was 2-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 48 games for the Washington Nationals last season. He spent eight seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and recorded a career-best 34 saves in 2013.

The San Diego Padres signed veteran right-handed reliever Casey Janssen to a minor league contract Saturday.Janssen, who has pitched for nine seasons in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals, was in spring training camp in Peoria, Ariz., on Saturday morning.The 34-year-old Janssen was 2-5 with a 4.95 ERA over 40 innings in 48 games last season with the Nationals.Janssen saved 81 games with a 2.94 ERA over 162 innings from 2012-14 with the Blue Jays.

RHP Casey Janssen had his $7 million mutual option declined by the Nationals on Nov. 2, making him a free agent. Janssen, 34, went 2-5 with a 4.95 ERA in 48 relief appearances for Washington this year.

Janssen could see some save opportunities over the final week of the season following the suspension of Jonathan Papelbon.

He hasn't been used in many high-leverage situations in the second half, but Janssen is the only reliever in the bullpen with recent closing experience. The Nats could elect to give younger arms like Felipe Rivero a look in the role as well, however.

Janssen recorded the final two outs of the seventh inning Tuesday to pick up his 10th hold of the season.

He's had a bumpy ride in the Nationals' bullpen this season but Janssen has been better in the second half, posting a 2.38 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB ratio in 11.1 innings since the All-Star break. He's not in line for saves, but he could pick up some holds down the stretch if the team makes a late push to get back in the playoff picture.

Janssen blew his first save of the season Saturday, giving up four runs on four hits and two walks in a disastrous eighth inning.

After three solid appearances following his activation from the DL, Janssen suddenly looked a lot more like the pitcher who lost the closer job in Toronto last year. The Nats are hoping he can be an effective set-up man for Drew Storen, but Janssen won't have a long leash in the role if he has many more implosions like Saturday's.

Janssen tossed two-thirds of an inning Sunday, striking out one, to pick up his first hold of the season.

He worked in back-to-back games this weekend without any issues, so it looks like Janssen's shoulder is fine. Don't expect to see him on the hill Monday, but he should slot in as Drew Storen's main set-up man going forward.

Janssen (shoulder) was reinstated from the DL on Friday.

He has been nursing a shoulder injury since the start of the season but will now claim a role setting up Drew Storen in the back of the Nationals' bullpen. While Janssen is a very effective reliever, he does not offer the bulk strikeouts that some other setup aces bring to the table.

Janssen (shoulder) said Tuesday that the Nationals potentially want him to make two more rehab appearances to work on his curveball, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.

There was talk that Janssen could be activated from the disabled list Tuesday, but he'll instead make at least one more rehab appearance. He should still be ready to join the big-league roster by the beginning of next week, if not at some point this week. Janssen figures to work in a setup role, and he could be a consistent source of holds.

Janssen (shoulder) could be activated from the DL on Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.

Although he has yet to throw an inning in the majors this year due to the injury, if Janssen is effective upon his return he should quickly slot into the Nationals' set-up picture alongside Aaron Barrett and Matt Thornton.

Janssen (shoulder) is scheduled to appear in back-to-back games at Double-A Harrisburg starting Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Pitching on consecutive days is the next hurdle for Janssen, who is working his way back from rotator cuff tendinitis. If he is able to throw two days in a row without a setback, a call-up to the Nationals would likely follow soon thereafter.

Janssen (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.

Janssen has already completed multiple outings with High-A Potomac, so this is the next logical step in his rehab. Once the right-hander can pitch in back-to-back games, his activation to the majors should be right around the corner.

Janssen (shoulder) began his rehab assignment Thursday and threw a scoreless inning at Single-A Potomac, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.

Janssen needed just nine pitches to get out of the inning Thursday and notched one strikeout. There has been no announcement as to when he'll make his next rehab appearance.

Janssen (shoulder) is on track to begin his rehab assignment Thursday, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports.

Janssen has been on the shelf for a month due to rotator cuff tendinitis, but he hasn't suffered any setbacks and is nearing a return. He threw one inning at extended spring training Monday and is slated to begin his rehab assignment Thursday.

Janssen (shoulder) threw an inning in an extended spring training game Thursday, Dan Kolko of MASN reports.

Janssen threw 16 pitches in Thursday's outing and reported no setbacks. He is scheduled to make one more appearance in an extended spring game, and if all goes well, he will begin a rehab assignment shortly thereafter.

Janssen (shoulder) threw a live BP session Monday, and is expected to throw a simulated game Thursday following two days of rest, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.

Janssen continues to progress back from a shoulder injury that cost him the beginning of the season. He took a big step Monday with the live BP session, and the simulated game Thursday would close him in on a return to the Nats' bullpen.

Janssen (shoulder) continues to make good progress in his recovery and threw a bullpen session Friday in Florida.

There is not timetable for his return, but it seems likely that he will go on a rehab assignment in the near future. When he is ready to join the Nationals he will slot in as the Nationals' setup man.

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said on Sunday that Janssen (shoulder) is making progress, but he wouldn't give a timetable for his return, the Washington Post reports.

The Nats are still trying to sort out the most effective set-up crew for closer Drew Storen, so Janssen should still get an opportunity to work his way into a high-leverage role if he's able to return in the next couple of weeks.

Janssen (shoulder) began his throwing program Friday.

He is working his way back from rotator cuff tendinitis and it could be a couple weeks before he is able to rejoin the team.