Putkonen (elbow) is nearing a rehab assignment, MLive.com reports. GM Dave Dombrowski admitted Friday that he was not expecting Putkonen to return this season, but he's now optimistic given the right-hander's recent progress. Putkonen, who has been on the DL since April 19, has been rehabbing at High-A Lakeland and may return to a middle-relief role by early-to-mid September.