LHP Matt Thornton, designated for assignment by San Diego on Saturday, was released Thursday. Thornton had a 5.82 ERA in 18 outings for the Padres this season.

LHP Matt Thornton was designated for assignment Saturday to open a spot for LHP Clayto Richard on the 25-man roster. Thornton had a 5.82 ERA in 18 outings for the Padres this season. Green said the Padres picked Richard over Thornton because Richard has the ability to go more than an inning out of the bullpen and could also be used as a spot starter.

LHP Matt Thornton pitched for the Nationals out of the bullpen in 2015. He appeared in 60 games with Washington and had 2.18 ERA. He was not used Friday in Washington and has a 6.75 ERA in 14 games.

LHP Matt Thornton was activated off the 15-day disabled list Saturday and pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Thornton made the opening day roster out of spring training but did not make an appearance before being placed on the disabled list on April 8, retroactive to April 4 with left Achilles tendinitis.

LHP Matt Thornton was recalled from the 15-day disabled list and optioned LHP Keith Hessler to Triple-A El Paso. Thornton made San Diego's opening day roster but did not make an appearance before being placed on the disabled list April 8, retroactive to April 4, with tendinitis in his left Achilles. Thornton threw three scoreless innings in rehab assignments with Single-A Lake Elsinore.

LHP Matt Thornton (left Achilles tendinitis) was in the clubhouse Friday and could be activated this weekend. "It's a realistic possibility," Padres manager Andy Green said. Thornton, placed on the disabled list April 8, pitched rehab games for Class A Lake Elsinore on Wednesday and Thursday. "Threw well," Green said. "Felt good. Had to move around. He has no issues whatsoever. We feel good about him."

LHP Matt Thornton (left Achilles tendinitis) is close to making his Padres debut, manager Andy Green reported Wednesday. Thornton was impressive in a one-inning, injury-rehab stint at Class A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday night, and was scheduled to pitch again Wednesday. Green said if all went well, the club would consider reinstating Thornton from the disabled list Friday in Arizona.

LHP Matt Thornton (left Achilles' tendinitis) was scheduled to make a second injury rehab appearance at Class A Lake Elsinore on Wednesday night after pitching a 1-2-3 inning Tuesday. Green indicated Thornton is a candidate to be reinstated from the disabled list as early as Friday in Arizona.

LHP Matt Thornton (left Achilles tendinitis) allowed an unearned run in an inning Saturday night in his rehab debut with Class A Lake Elsinore.

LHP Matt Thornton (left Achilles strain) and RHP Jon Edwards (forearm strain) are also headed to the Padres' extended spring training facility in Arizona on Sunday afternoon to start facing live hitters as the next stage before rehab assignments. Thornton will also go through fielding drills to test his Achilles.

LHP Matt Thornton (left Achilles tendinitis) was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 4. Padres manager Andy Green said Thornton suffered the injury on Opening Day while running in the outfield before the game against the Dodgers. Green said Thornton will wear a boot for two weeks before beginning his rehab. "It's just giving him time to rest and to heal," Green said. "Hopefully, it doesn't take him too terribly long." Thornton, who had a 2.18 ERA with Washington last season, was a non-roster invitee to spring training after signing with the Padres late in the offseason and made the team out of spring training.

LHP Matt Thornton (left Achilles' tendinitis) was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Monday.

Thornton pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Brewers, giving up a hit and striking out one.

He hasn't been a key part of the Nationals' set-up crew this season, instead drifting into a LOOGY/middle-relief role, but Thornton still has a solid 2.87 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 15 holds in 31.3 innings on the year.

Thornton got the final two outs of the seventh inning on Saturday to pick up his first hold of the season.

Nationals' manager Matt Williams seem intent on giving younger arms Blake Treinen and Aaron Barrett a long look in the eighth inning to start the season, but Treinen blew the lead on Saturday and if the kids continue to struggle, Thornton will likely move up a spot or two in the bullpen pecking order.

Thornton has had a quiet spring, posting a 2.45 ERA and 2:0 K:BB ratio in just 3.2 innings.

There's been nothing wrong with Thornton, but the veteran lefty is simply saving his bullets for when the games start to count, He should be Drew Storen's primary left-handed setup man this season, and after racking up six holds in just 18 games for the Nats last season, he could be a sneaky source of value in that category in 2015.

Thornton was named by manager Matt Williams as a candidate to see save chances with Rafael Soriano removed from the closer role, Dan Kolko of MASNsports.com reports.

Since joining the Nationals, Thornton has tossed 9.1 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against one walk. For the season, he's held opposing lefties to a .243/.288/.257 batting line, so he could see save chances depending on the matchups, but right-handers Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen seem more likely to receive opportunities in place of Soriano.

Thornton, Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard were all mentioned by Nationals manager Matt Williams as possible ninth-inning replacements for a struggling Rafael Soriano after Friday's game, the Washington Post reports.

Williams hasn't officially taken Soriano out of the closer role just yet, but indications are strong that the veteran reliever will get at least a temporary break from high-leverage use. If Williams makes the switch on Saturday though look for Storen, who only faced one batter on Friday, to get the nod.

Thornton, who was claimed off waivers Tuesday, has been activated, the Washington Post reports.

Thornton, whom the Nats claimed from the Yankees, will add a third lefty to the bullpen. He brings a 2.55 ERA and has not allowed a home run in his last 40.0 innings. In a corresponding move, Washington optioned Blake Treinen to Triple-A Syracuse.

Thornton has been claimed off waivers by the Nationals, ESPN New York reports.

Thornton, who was placed on waivers by the Yankees, is under contract for $3.5 million next season. He'll provide immediate help in the bullpen after posting a healthy 2.55 ERA in 24.2 innings for the Yankees. Over the past two seasons (40.0 cumulative innings), Thornton has racked up 29 strikeouts without allowing a home run.

The Yankees have agreed to a 2-year, $7 million deal with free agent lefty reliever Matt Thornton.

Thorton, 37, is coming off a 3.74 ERA and 30/15 K/BB ratio over 47 1/3 innings this past season between the White Sox and Red Sox. He's a cost-effective replacement for Boone Logan, who suckered the Rockies into paying him $16.5 million over three years. Thornton, at this point in his career, is a decent middle-inning relief option.