Twins' Santana heads back to DL with reoccurring finger injury

Ervin Santana's 2018 season has gone from bad to worse.

The Minnesota Twins right-hander is heading back to the 10-day disabled list with reoccurring symptoms related to his original finger injury, the team announced Sunday. The injury involves the MCP joint, or knuckle, of his pitching hand's middle finger.

The 35-year-old's made five starts in what has been a lost season, compiling an 8.03 ERA in 24 2/3 innings pitched. He underwent finger surgery in February and didn't play until late July. He's just one year removed from arguably the best season of his career, in which he went 16-8 with a 3.28 ERA in 211 1/3 innings.

A timetable for a return remains unclear, but if Santana's unable to make it back to the mound this season, it could mark the end of his tenure with the Twins, considering he has a $14-million club option in his contract for next year.

Santana signed a four-year, $55-million deal (plus the club option) with the Twins in December 2014. Over four seasons in Minnesota, he's gone 30-25 with a 3.68 ERA in 525 1/3 innings while accumulating 7.0 WAR, according to FanGraphs.