The Twins placed center fielder Denard Span on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder injury after Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Mariners and announced that they would make a corresponding move in time for Friday's game in Kansas City.

Teams can expand their active rosters on Saturday, but the Twins did this today so they can recall outfielder Matt Carson from Rochester on Friday. Carson was demoted back to the minors on Aug. 23, and players must spend 10 days in the minors after being optioned -- unless the team has a DL situation.

The Twins would have used Span off the bench, at least, in Thursday's loss, but he wasn't available.

Span hasn't played since Monday, so he'll be eligible to return Sept. 12. But his right shoulder has been bothering him since he rolled awkwardly trying to make a catch on Aug. 12. He was listed as day-to-day, but missed nine games before returning to the lineup.

Span had another MRI exam on Wednesday and was diagnosed with a strained sternoclavicular joint. He was told it's an injury that won't fully heal until the offseason, but he was determined to try to play when it was manageable.

"I had my bags packed [for Kansas City] this morning and was ready to go on the road trip," Span said. "But I had a talk with [GM Terry Ryan], and we agreed that maybe it was just best to take a few more days to get some of the swelling out of the ligament that's swollen and see where I'm at in 10 days."

Span couldn't rule out the chance that he's finished for the season.

"We'll see [on Sept. 12], depending on how it feels," he said. "Hopefully these next 10 days it'll heal enough to where I can finish the season off and start that healing process again during the offseason.

"But I'm just going to listen to my body. Hopefully these 10 days and the treatment and the anti-inflammatories will help out, but I'm going to be smart as well, when I come off the DL, and do what I think is best."