Joe C. is handling the coverage today, but he's stuck in the clubhouse. So I'm lending a helping hand.
The Twins will reinstate catcher Joe Mauer from the 60-day disabled list in time for Friday's game against San Diego. To make room on the 25-man and 40-man roster for Mauer, the club has outrighted outfielder Brian Dinkleman to Class AAA Rochester.
The Twins also will activate lefthander Glen Perkins from the 15-day DL and have optioned lefty Chuck James from to Rochester to make room.
That means the Twins will carry three catchers - Mauer, Rene Rivera and Drew Butera - in the short term. It also means DH Jim Thome has no chance of making the roster in time for the interleague road series in San Francisco and Milwaukee next week. Thome, recovering from a sore back and quad, is making good progress while working out in Fort Myers, Fla.
The stage is set for Mauer to make his first appearance for the Twins since Apr. 12, when he was forced to the DL with what the Twins described as bilateral leg weakness. He soon came down with a viral infection and lost 10-15 pounds. In nine games, Mauer is batting .235 with no homers and 4 RBI.
Dinkleman batted .286 in six games.
Perkins has been a revelation out of the bullpen, posting a 1.59 ERA in 22 games before landing on the DL with a strained right oblique muscle. James, over four games, tossed five scoreless innings.
