The Padres and LHP Joe Thatcher avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $700,000 contract. Thatcher pitched only 10 innings last season due to a shoulder injury. He was dominant in 2010 and 2009, however, and will try to bounce back this year with better health.

Padres manager Bud Black said Friday that Joe Thatcher (shoulder) will be used in lower leverage situations in order to "get his feel back on the ground." Thatcher, who underwent shoulder surgery in May, was activated from the disabled list Thursday. The veteran left-hander hasn't pitched in the majors this season, but has a 2.14 ERA and 100 strikeouts over 80 innings since the start of 2009.

Padres activated LHP Joe Thatcher from the 60-day disabled list. Thatcher compiled a 1.29 ERA in 65 games 2010, but has been sidelined all this season with a shoulder injury. To make room on the big-league roster, Blake Tekotte was optioned to Double-A San Antonio.

Joe Thatcher (shoulder) tossed a perfect inning Sunday in his first minor league rehab appearance with Single-A Lake Elsinore. The southpaw struck out two. It was his first appearance since undergoing shoulder surgery in early May. He is expected to transfer to Triple-A Tucson on Tuesday.

Joe Thatcher (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Sunday. He'll make just one appearances for Lake Elsinore before moving up to Triple-A Tucson, where he's expected to throw 15 rehab innings. "This will be his spring training," Padres manager Bud Black said. Thatcher had shoulder surgery in early May and has yet to appear for the Pads this season.

Joe Thatcher (shoulder) is scheduled to face live hitters next Wednesday. It's the first time he's done so since undergoing shoulder surgery back in early May. Th Padres are hoping he'll be ready to contribute sometime in August.

Joe Thatcher (shoulder) threw off the mound Monday for the first time since February. Thatcher was sidelined for most of spring training due to soreness in his shoulder and underwent surgery in early May. "This was sort of my last mental hurdle ... getting on the mound again," said Thatcher, who threw 25 pitches, all of them fastballs. "It was exciting and just fun to be back out there, throwing and visualizing hitters." The southpaw hopes to rejoin the Padres sometime in August.

Joe Thatcher (shoulder) is hoping to return to the Padres by August 1. Thatcher will throw a bullpen session Monday for the first time since his shoulder surgery. "August was the original target date, and it's looking good," said Thatcher. The lefty has yet to appear this season for the Pads due to his shoulder woes.

Joe Thatcher is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery in May. "It will be a good first step," said Thatcher. The 29-year-old southpaw was cleared to pitch off a mound after making 25 throws off flat ground with increased intensity on Wednesday. He's still hoping to return later this season.

Joe Thatcher (shoulder) threw 40 "painless" pitches from 90 feet Friday. He should be ready to try throwing from a mound before long. Thatcher, who underwent exploratory surgery on his pitching shoulder in early May, is hoping to return sometime during the second half.