Padres plan to bring Josh Johnson back as a reliever

If Padres pitcher Josh Johnson is able to return before the end of the season, he will do so as a reliever, reports The San Diego Union-Tribune.

"I like starting," Johnson said Sunday, "but whatever I can do to help the team."

Johnson is trying to recover from his second Tommy John surgery and he was able play catch from 60 feet Saturday and Sunday. The team hopes to have Johnson on the mound this season.

"We're always hopeful,” assistant general manager Fred Uhlman Jr said. "He's just starting to ramp up, so we can't answer that until he gets back up on a mound."