Vicente Padilla Returns From The DL, Danny Valencia Optioned

The Red Sox lost a relief option (and gained a Pawtucket infielder in Mauro Gomez) when Felix Doubront was retroactively placed on the disabled list with a knee contusion on Saturday. On Tuesday, the club sent an infielder(Danny Valencia) back to Pawtucket in exchange for a relief option on the DL. Vicente Padilla is back in Boston after missing the minimum 15 days.

Padilla didn't need all 15 days to recuperate from his arm strain, but he was unavailable at a time when the Red Sox bullpen was in desperate need of a fresh arm. Clayton Mortensen was brought up in his place, and Mortensen remains in the pen upon Padilla's return.

In the post-April 21 world we like to look at for the bullpen -- i.e., post-Yankee relief explosion -- Padilla has thrown 34 batters against nine free passes, with a 3.41 ERA. That's not the greatest, but the Red Sox pen won't turn it away, either.

Valencia was acquired from the Twins in exchange for a 21-year-old in his second stint at the Rookie level, Jeremias Pineda. Valencia hit just .125 with Boston over four games and nine plate appearances, and with Pedro Ciriaco and Nick Punto around for third base duties, he's somewhat superfluous on the roster if he's not going to hit. He could be back when rosters expand in September, but for now, it's to Triple-A with the former Twin.