According to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish, six teams have checked in on free agent Nick Blackburn. Blackburn, 31, underwent surgery in August to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and may have to sit out a large chunk of the 2014 season. The Twins made the easy to decision to decline his $8 million option in October. He has a 4.85 career ERA and 1.47 career WHIP.

Nick Blackburn will have season-ending surgery Friday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Blackburn has had right knee issues off and on throughout his career. He'll be a free agent this winter after the Twins decline his $8 million club option.

Nick Blackburn will have his knee examined Wednesday. It's presumably his right knee, which has given him issues off and on throughout his career. Blackburn has posted a 5.02 ERA over six starts in the minors this season while working his way back from a pair of surgeries on his pitching arm.

Nick Blackburn has been promoted to Triple-A. Blackburn made five starts between the Twins' Gulf Coast League affiliate and Double-A squad as he works his way back from wrist surgery, posting a 3.80 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. General manager Terry Ryan said it's possible he could make it back up to the big club this season. "He's getting there. His velocity is OK, around 88-90 [mph], I believe," Ryan said. "He's got enough sink. He's got enough velocity. It's going to be [determined by his] location and breaking ball. He used to have an unhittable cutter."

Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said Wednesday that Nick Blackburn (arm) will make his first minor league rehab start Saturday with the team's Gulf Coast League affiliate. Blackburn, who is making his way back from January wrist surgery, is scheduled to throw 45-50 pitches Saturday. He'll likely join the rotation with Triple-A Rochester once he's back to full health.

Nick Blackburn (arm) will throw in a simulated game Monday. The hope is that he'll be ready to appear in a game for the Gulf Coast League Twins shortly after that. Recovering from a pair of surgeries on his pitching arm, Blackburn will eventually be added to Triple-A Rochester's rotation.

Nick Blackburn (arm) has resumed playing catch. Blackburn is recovering from a pair of surgeries on his pitching arm. He'll be assigned to Triple-A Rochester once healthy.

Twins reassigned RHPs Nick Blackburn, Lester Oliveros, Alex Meyer, Bryan Augenstein and Esmerling Vasquez to minor league camp. No big surprises here. Formerly a fixture in the Twins' rotation, Blackburn has posted a 5.56 ERA and 1.57 WHIP since the start of 2010 and is recovering from a pair of surgeries on his pitching arm.

Nick Blackburn is expected to be sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery on his right forearm last week. Blackburn had surgery on October 25 to remove a bone chip from his right elbow, but he continued having problems after the procedure, necessitating another operation. While it's possible he could make it back in time for Opening Day, it certainly doesn't help his chances of winning a roster spot. The odds were probably already not good after he posted a 7.39 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 19 starts in 2012.

Nick Blackburn underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow on October 25. It was a relatively minor procedure, and Blackburn is expected to be 100 percent for spring training. The veteran right-hander will be a non-roster invitee and must impress next spring to earn a spot in the Opening Day rotation. He posted an ugly 7.39 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 19 starts this season.