SEATTLE -- The Twins placed left-handed starter Hector Santiago on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday with left shoulder soreness and claimed right-handed pitcher Chris Heston, adding him to the 25-man roster.
Santiago had trouble warming up before his start against the Mariners in Seattle on Tuesday, according to Twins manager Paul Molitor, and experienced soreness in his shoulder while throwing Wednesday. Santiago struggled in Tuesday's 12-3 loss to the Mariners. Molitor said he doesn't expect it to be a long-term stay on the DL. Santiago repeated his sentiment.
"I played catch today and it felt OK," Santiago said. "I think I can go out there and throw, but it was like, 'Hey, let's take a step back and not let it get any worse. I don't think it's anything bad. I played catch today, got to 150 [feet] and it was fine, a little achy. But I think it's more of a precautionary thing, just not make it get worse. Nip it in the bud now and then finish off the final four months strong."
Santiago said it was a mutual decision between him and Twins to head to the disabled list. He'll fly to Minnesota on Wednesday night or Thursday to undergo tests.
"It's the right thing to try and get him back to 100 percent," Molitor said.
Santiago will vacate his scheduled Sunday start. Molitor hasn't decided who will fill in, whether it's a Minor League callup or the recently acquired Heston.
"We don't have a lot of options up here," Molitor said. "I guess you could consider Heston, if we don't use him throughout the week, as a possibility. ... If we have to make some maneuvering on the 40-man [roster] to get some of our Triple-A starters [up, that] is an option."
The preliminary plan for Heston, according to Molitor, is to employ him out of the bullpen as a long reliever.
Polanco to bereavement list
The Twins placed shortstop Jorge Polanco on the bereavement list and recalled first baseman Kennys Vargas from Triple-A Rochester to take his spot on the 25-man roster, the club announced Wednesday.
Polanco will be away from the team as he mourns the passing of his grandfather. He flew back to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday to be with his family.
Molitor said Tuesday he is unsure when Polanco will return to the team, but a player must miss three to seven games after being placed on the bereavement list.
"Those things are not good. They're tough," Molitor said on Tuesday. "It's been weighing on him the past week or so. I just told him to do what he needs to do to take care of himself and his family."
Polanco is batting .251 with two home runs and 20 RBIs in 46 games for Minnesota this season.
Vargas, 26, played in 24 games with the Twins earlier this season, hitting .258 with five home runs and 19 RBIs.
"Obviously one of your teammates loses somebody and is going through that situation, you feel for him," Vargas said through an interpreter. "... I can come in and do my job and help the team win."