Matt Thornton
RP FA
Sat 8/6/16 5:12 PM

Thornton was designated for assignment Saturday.
EDGE Analysis
After a lackluster July where Thornton posted a 9.45 ERA and 1.80 WHIP over eight appearances, the Padres are sending him on assignment. San Diego also signed Clayton Richard to a contract recently which gives them breathing room in the bullpen. Thornton will likely head to Triple-A El Paso now unless he gets picked up by another organization during his waiver period.

Matt Thornton
RP FA
Sat 5/28/16 6:47 PM

Thornton (Achilles) was activated off the disabled list Saturday.
EDGE Analysis
The Padres gain another veteran lefty in the bullpen with the activation of Thornton, who has been on the DL since the first week of the season due to Achilles tendinitis. Lefty Keith Hessler was optioned to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move Saturday.

Matt Thornton
RP FA
Fri 5/27/16 7:02 PM

Thornton (Achilles) is close to returning from the disabled list but won't be activated Friday, Dennis Lin of the Union-Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
The veteran southpaw is with the team as they start a weekend series with the Diamondbacks, but Lin explains that that has to do with the fact that Thornton has a home near Chase Field. He won't come off the DL on Friday, but Thornton did tell reporters that he feels very close to rejoining the team. Once Thornton is activated, the likes of Luis Perdomo or Keith Hessler could be bumped out of the Padres' bullpen.

Matt Thornton
RP FA
Thu 5/26/16 4:14 PM

Thornton (Achilles) could return to the Padres as early as Friday, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
Thornton was roughed up a bit in his most recent rehab appearance, giving up two runs on two hits in an inning with High-A Lake Elsinore, but his Achilles is feeling much better and is even holding up through PFP during games. No official move has been made yet, but it seems as if the veteran left-hander is very close to making his debut in the Padres bullpen.

Matt Thornton
RP FA
Sun 5/22/16 12:34 AM

Thornton (left Achilles tendinitis) began his rehab assignment with High-A Lake Elsinore on Saturday, MLB.com's Bill Center reports.
EDGE Analysis
He gave up one unearned run in one inning, and will likely continue with rehab outings over the next week or two before being ready to join the big league bullpen.

Matt Thornton
RP FA
Sat 4/30/16 9:50 PM

Thornton (Achilles) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday but still remains without a timetable for return, Dennis Lin of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
Thornton's Achilles is said to be healing but still needs added time to heal completely. The left-hander intends to ramp up running activities within a week but manager Andy Green indicated that fielding practice will be an important benchmark to surpass before a return to the diamond becomes a legitimate possibility. The 39-year-old was placed on the 15-day DL on April 8.

Matt Thornton
RP FA
Fri 4/8/16 12:58 PM

Thornton was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday due to left Achilles tendinitis, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
The veteran reliever made the Padres' Opening Day roster this spring after initially being in camp as a non-roster invitee. However, he is dealing with a case of tendinitis in his Achilles tendon that'll shelve him for the time being. The Padres announced that his placement on the disabled list is retroactive to April 4, so the earliest he can return will be April 19. Robbie Erlin was recalled to the bullpen in a corresponding move.

Matt Thornton
RP FA
Sun 4/3/16 1:20 PM

Thornton had his contract selected by the Padres on Sunday, MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Thornton had been informed last week that he would make the Opening Day roster, and Sunday's move will make it official. Look for the left-hander to serve in middle relief.

Matt Thornton
RP FA
Tue 3/29/16 3:53 PM

Thornton has been informed that he has made the Opening Day roster, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
Thornton was a late addition to the team after signing a minor league deal in March, but despite struggling in the spring to the tune of a 12.00 ERA in seven outings, he'll join the bullpen to begin the year. The 39-year-old had one of his better seasons in 2015 with the Nationals, posting a 2.18 ERA in 41.1 innings, and could be a decent source of holds.

Matt Thornton
RP FA
Thu 3/3/16 10:08 AM

Thornton agreed to a minor league deal with the Padres on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.
EDGE Analysis
Thornton spent 2015 with the Nationals, where he posted one of the better ERAs of his career (2.18) over 41.1 innings. The 39-year-old has a seemingly good chance to make the team based on his track record in the league, and could end up serving as a sneaky option for holds late in drafts. The left-hander offers little strikeout upside, however, as his 5.0 K/9 rate in 2015 was the lowest of his MLB career.