The Twins want Scott Baker (elbow) to throw two bullpen sessions before throwing in a game. Baker was originally scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, but the Twins have pushed him back to Saturday. He's tentatively scheduled to throw another bullpen session Monday, which means the earliest he'll get back in a game is Thursday. The 30-year-old right-hander has recently dealt with a tender elbow, but the Twins have downplayed concerns.

Scott Baker (elbow) will long-toss Friday and throw a bullpen session Saturday. He had been schedule for a bullpen session Friday, but the Twins will push it back a day. Baker has been dealing with some elbow soreness, but the Twins don't appear to be overly concerned at this point. We'll obviously know more once he's throwing from a mound again.

Scott Baker (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday. The Twins backed off Baker in recent days due to elbow tenderness, but general manager Terry Ryan isn't concerned, at least publicly. We should know more about his status after he throws Friday.

Scott Baker confirmed that his elbow injury is a ''non-issue'' at this point in the offseason. Baker threw a bullpen session on Friday and expects to participate in group workouts without limitations. ''It was a good and productive offseason. It was the reason why I chose to rehab for six weeks and to throw two or three innings (at the end of last season) so it would allow me to have a normal offseason as far as the progression to get ready for spring training,'' Baker said. "Everything went great. As far as I know, I'm starting just like anyone else would.''

Scott Baker said Friday that his elbow "feels great" and that he plans to throw off a mound 6-8 times prior to spring training. Baker was limited to just 24 innings after the All-Star break last season due to a flexor muscle strain in his right elbow, but he went into the offseason healthy. The 30-year-old right-hander had a quality 3.01 ERA and 104/30 K/BB ratio over 110 2/3 innings during the first half of the season, so he'll likely enter 2012 as an undervalued commodity in mixed leagues.

Twins activated RHP Scott Baker from the 15-day disabled list. As expected. Baker, 30, has a 3.21 ERA and 120/30 K/BB ratio in 131 2/3 innings over 21 starts this season. He is expected to pitch out of the bullpen down the stretch.

Scott Baker (elbow) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday. He'll be used as a reliever down the stretch. Baker, who holds a 3.21 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 21 starts this season, has been out since early August with a flexor muscle strain in his right elbow.

Scott Baker (elbow) will throw another bullpen session Saturday before being re-evaluated. Baker has been out since early August with a flexor muscle strain in his elbow, but he's been throwing for a while with no issues. If he comes through the bullpen session OK, he could be used as a reliever over the final weeks.

Scott Baker (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. Baker has been out since early August with a flexor muscle strain in his elbow. If he returns later this month, it will be as a reliever.

If Scott Baker (elbow) and Francisco Liriano (shoulder) return later this month, it will likely be in relief. Baker in particular is coming along pretty well, but there's simply not enough time to get stretched back out to start. Feel free to go ahead and drop both pitchers if you had been hanging on to them hoping to get a few starts down the stretch.