Twins place pitcher Worley on waivers

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Vance Worley has gone from Opening Day starter to clearing waivers in just under a year.
The Minnesota Twins announced during Friday’s game that the 26-year-old right-hander had cleared waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Rochester.
That opens up a spot on the Twins’ 40-man roster, which should be useful when they seek to add such non-roster invitees as Jason Kubel, Jason Bartlett and/or Matt Guerrier to the 25-man big-league roster. Kubel and Guerrier must be added by Tuesday or paid $100,000 retention bonuses.
Bartlett has a March 25 opt-out, but he would not be due a $100,000 retention bonus should the Twins fail to add him to their big-league roster.
According to a person with direct knowledge, the Twins placed Worley on waivers Wednesday after he was shelled the previous night in a start against Tampa Bay. The 48-hour waiver period expired at         1 p.m. Friday.
Worley is out of options and thus couldn’t be sent to the minor leagues without first clearing waivers.
His shoulder and elbow are healthy again, and Worley lost 20-plus pounds this offseason, but his results have been no better this spring. The Rays pinned 11 hits and seven earned runs on him Tuesday in just 2⅔ innings. Worley also walked two and gave up six doubles, three of them to young star Wil Myers.