BOSTON -- Kenta Maeda is already on the injured list, but the Twins don't know how long he'll be there.

Even after being placed on the 10-day IL on Monday, Maeda is continuing to seek out additional opinions regarding the condition of his problematic right arm, which has now sidelined him twice this season. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli didn't rule out the possibility of surgery as Maeda continues to learn more, starting with an additional opinion with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas on Wednesday.

"I would say that there are several scenarios where maybe he won’t pitch again this year, but to eliminate every scenario and say there’s no chance of that, I don’t want to do that at the moment," Baldelli said. "Again, we’re going to know a lot more very soon."

Baldelli indicated that Maeda would likely continue to seek additional opinions following that visit and arrive at a decision in conjunction with Dr. Christopher Camp, the Twins' team physician, once the group has amassed an adequate amount of information.

Maeda's ailment is listed on the injury report as "right forearm tightness," but Baldelli said that issues in the forearm, elbow and elsewhere in the arm could be related. Maeda also reported soreness in the right arm earlier this season, when it resulted in his delayed reinstatement from the 10-day injured list in June after he was originally placed on the IL for a right adductor strain in his groin area.

Maeda has pitched to a 4.66 ERA in 106 1/3 innings this season, his highest single-season mark since arriving from Japan.

"It hasn’t been a year where he could just go out there and do his job and get ready for his starts and not have to worry about anything," Baldelli said. "He’s pitched through some things and truthfully, especially recently, he’s pitched really well while still dealing with things."

Baldelli couldn't confirm any worry over potential involvement of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), as MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported earlier in the day, but that has been a possible concern since Maeda arrived in the United States in 2016.

When he was first introduced with the Dodgers, Maeda indicated that physical exams had revealed "irregularities" in his elbow, and MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reported at the time that there was "strong suspicion" that Maeda would eventually require Tommy John surgery. All of that factored into the unique, incentive-laden contract Maeda initially signed with the Dodgers -- which has since translated to the Twins.

Even so, Maeda was durable and consistent in his first five seasons in the United States -- four with the Dodgers and one with Minnesota -- before arm issues started to flare up this year. Before this season, he had only spent three brief stints on the IL with the Dodgers -- all for leg issues.

With Maeda's injury, the Twins are without all five members of their Opening Day starting rotation, with rookies Bailey Ober, Griffin Jax and Charlie Barnes currently holding down three of the spots, with the other two remaining in flux.

One of the other spots belongs for now to swingman John Gant, whom the Twins wanted to keep in the bullpen upon his arrival in a Trade Deadline deal from St. Louis. Baldelli said left-hander Andrew Albers, recently selected from Triple-A St. Paul, could give the Twins some starting depth, while Randy Dobnak and Joe Ryan could also factor in once they've built up more length.

Buxton to continue rehab assignment
Byron Buxton's rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul continued on Tuesday, when he started in center field and hit second for the Saints against Toledo in his third game of action following his recovery from a broken hand sustained on June 21. Baldelli said that Buxton will play full games with the Saints on Tuesday and Wednesday before the Twins evaluate his next step.

The Twins are back in Minneapolis on Friday to open a three-game series against Milwaukee.

Varela returns amid Twins' COVID issues
Hitting coach Edgar Varela returned to the team on Tuesday following nearly two weeks away due to a positive COVID-19 test that likely occurred when he went home to care for family members who had tested positive, Baldelli said on Tuesday. First-base coach Tommy Watkins remains away from the team with COVID-19, and Baldelli also said last Wednesday that the Twins had two other staff members out with "COVID-related issues" at the time.

"The rest of the situation has not changed, which is also good news, so we’ll take that right now," Baldelli said. "We haven’t had any additional positives or anything like that, so I think we’re in a pretty good spot. Hopefully we can hold that line and feel OK about it and get some of these guys back."