The San Diego Padres have requested for the unconditional release of right-handed pitcher Micah Owings, making him a free agent, reports Corey Brock of MLB.com:

The #Padres have requested unconditional release waivers on RHP Micah Owings.

— Follow The Padres (@FollowThePadres) October 23, 2012

Owings, 30, went down with a serious elbow injury after just nine and two-thirds innings of work for San Diego this season, requiring surgery that will sideline until at least February.

Due to his injury status, it seems likely that Owings will only receive a minor-league deal from any interested squad. Known for his offensive skills as much as his pitching repertoire, Owings has hinted that he may try to stage a comeback as a position player rather than a pitcher in order to avoid the arm troubles that have frequently sidelined him.

Owner of a 4.86 ERA in six seasons, Owings is also a career .282/.310/.502 hitter with nine home runs and fourteen doubles in two hundred nineteen plate appearances.