MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Twins right-hander Ervin Santana will miss the start of the regular season after unexpected surgery on his right middle finger.The Twins announced the 35-year-old right-hander had the procedure Tuesday in New York by Dr. Charles Melone, after Santana experienced discomfort during a bullpen session last week. Santana is expected to need 10 to 12 weeks of rehabilitation before he can pitch in a major league game, which would keep him out of the rotation until at least mid-April.Santana has had trouble with the digit before and had an X-ray and MRI after the 2017 season, when doctors determined there was no injury to the tendon. He was treated with an injection at the time. The injury resurfaced last week, and Melone's recommendation was surgery. The procedure to the joint of the finger is a capsular release/debridement. The Twins said the injury stems from wear and tear, not one acute event.Santana was an All-Star last year, going 16-8 with a 3.28 ERA in 211 1/3... [More]

INF Taylor Featherston, designated for assignment by the Rays on Monday, was outrighted to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday. He hit .179 in 17 games and 47 plate appearances with the Rays. He has a .160 career batting average in 137 major league games, including stints with the Phillies last year and the Angels in 2015.

IF Taylor Featherston was designated for assignment. He hit .179 in 17 games and 47 plate-appearances with the Rays. He has a .160 career batting average in 137 games, including stints with the Phillies last year and the Angels in 2015.

INF Taylor Featherston was optioned to Triple-A Durham before Friday's game. He hit only .179 in 17 games and is likely not returning until rosters expand -- the Rays traded away Tim Beckham, but Daniel Robertson's healthy return Friday sent Featherston back to the minors.

INF Taylor Featherston was recalled from Triple-A Durham. Featherston began his second stint with the Rays this season by entering as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning Monday night against the Astros and was later hit by a pitch to force in a run in the eighth. He was hitless in his last 15 at-bats prior to his recall, but was batting .269 with two home runs prior to that stretch.

3B Taylor Featherston was optioned to Triple-A Durham Saturday night. He was obtained by the Rays from the Phillies in a trade and filled a hole in the infield when Richie Weeks was sidelined with a shoulder impingent. He hit .184 with two home runs in 16 games.

INF Taylor Featherston got the start at second base with Tim Beckham nursing a sore ankle. "He's done a really nice job with limited playing time," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "It seems like every time he gets up to the plate, he's given us a solid at-bat. He has a knack for finding the barrel." Featherston went 0-for-3 with a walk and run.

2B Taylor Featherston, acquired from the Phillies last week, reached base three times Tuesday with a pair of walks and followed that with a solo home run Wednesday, his second in his short stint with Tampa Bay. Featherston, a .162 career hitter when the Rays acquired him, has hit .273 while helping them deal with injuries to their middle infield.

INF Taylor Featherston hit his first home run of the season in the third inning Tuesday in the 8-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. It was his third career homer in his 123rd major league game covering 188 at-bats.

INF Taylor Featherston was traded Friday to Tampa Bay for cash considerations. Featherston, who was batting .270 with three homers and 20 RBI for the Phillies' Triple-A team at Lehigh Valley, was called up to the Rays and will serve as a backup on their injury-depleted roster. Featherston has batted .156 in 180 major league at-bats the last two years with the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia.

INF Taylor Featherston, designated for assignment by the Phillies on Saturday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday. Featherston hit .115 in 26 at-bats with the Phillies and .254 in 99 games with Lehigh Valley.

INF Taylor Featherston was designated for assignment Saturday by the Phillies to make room for LHP Joely Rodriguez on the 40-man roster. Featherston hit .115 in 26 at-bats with the Phillies and .254 in 99 games with Lehigh Valley.

INF Taylor Featherston was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday afternoon when the Phillies recalled Emmanuel Burriss. Featherston hit just .091 in 26 at-bats with the Phillies.

INF Taylor Featherston was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He appeared in 19 games with the Phillies, batting .119.

2B Taylor Featherston made his first Phillies start on Wednesday, but things did not go well. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, and he left three runners on base.

INF Taylor Featherston, 25, was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Featherston, who played 101 major league games last season for the Angels, was hitting .264 with 12 homers at Lehigh Valley. He was the Colorado Rockies' fifth-round pick in 2011. The Cubs claimed him in the 2014 Rule 5 draft and later traded him to the Angels, who dealt him to the Phillies prior to this season.

INF Taylor Featherston, designated for assignment by the Angels on Friday, was traded to the Phillies on Wednesday in exchange for cash or a player to be named. Featherston, 26, hit .162/.212/.247 with two homers and nine RBIs in 101 games for Los Angeles last season.

INF Taylor Featherston was designated for assignment by the Angels on Friday to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for newly acquired LHP Christian Friedrich. Featherston, 26, hit .162/.212/.247 with two homers and nine RBIs in 101 games for Los Angeles last season.

Featherston went 3-for-5 with his second homer, two RBI and two runs against the Twins on Thursday.

How poorly has Featherston hit this year? Thursday's effort lifted his average to only .167 over 138 big-league at-bats. Considering these were his first hits in a week, he's unplayable in most fantasy formats right now.

Featherston will receive the start at second base and bat ninth in the order Sunday against the Astros.

Since being reinstated from the DL when rosters expanded in September, Featherston has emerged as the Angels' everyday option at second base, mostly for a lack of better alternatives. The Rule 5 selection has looked ill prepared to face MLB pitching this season, producing a .160/.215./232 batting line over 138 plate appearances.