BOSTON (AP) – The Minnesota Twins traded left-hander Brad Thomas to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday for a player or cash.

Thomas opened this season with the Twins and was 0-0 with a 16.87 ERA in three relief appearances before being designated for assignment April 13.

Boston manager Terry Francona said Thomas has an elbow injury, and that a doctor will examine him in Boston on Friday.

Thomas, 26, is expected to report to Triple-A Pawtucket and go on the disabled list.

“The risk versus reward is off the charts,” Francona said. “The risk the organization is taking to get him is so minimal, and this is a lefty we saw in spring training that we had him averaging 93 (mph), so it’s a chance to get a look at a nice lefty.”

Thomas was 0-3 with a 9.89 ERA in 11 major league appearances for Minnesota in 2001 and 2003-04.

Thomas is 53-51 with a 3.87 ERA in 169 career minor league outings, all but 14 as a starter. He struck out 694 and walked 276 in 891 1-3 minor league innings.

AP-ES-04-21-04 1734EDT