Use internal options
This past summer, I explored how the Colorado Rockies had found success in 2017 and how the Twins could follow that path in 2018.
That path would still certainly work as many of the options are still in house. With Ervin Santana missing just one month, the team could go with a rotation headed by Berrios and Gibson, followed by a host of young arms who spend the spring competing to be in the opening day rotation, and then have guys at AAA that can immediately jump in if one of their opening day pieces falter.
Last season saw Adalberto Mejia get 21 starts, and he certainly could factor heavily. However, Aaron Slegers, Felix Jorge, and Dietrich Enns all made at least one start for the major league team and return to the organization in 2018. Add in top prospects Stephen Gonsalves, Zack Littell, and Fernando Romero, each of whom had success in AA in 2017, Gonsalves even working his way to AAA, and you have the makings of 6 guys to compete for 3 spots.
The Twins also have a few guys who are similar to some of the pitchers the Rockies had that made a jump without significant upper levels experience in Lewis Thorpe or Lachlan Wells.
Interestingly, the Minnesota Twins also have Phil Hughes returning from thoracic outlet syndrome revision surgery, and he could contribute in the final year of his contract. Michael Pineda will return late in the season from Tommy John surgery as well, just to add two more arms into the mix.
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The other thing the Minnesota Twins have done well this offseason is lengthen their bullpen to protect against blow up issues with these starters. Adding three veteran bullpen pieces in free agency has allowed the talented young arms that produced a top-10 bullpen in the final two months of 2017 once closer Brandon Kintzler was traded to be reset and put into less-stressful roles.
The team will also have a host of talented relief arms on the 40-man roster sitting in AAA that could quickly move up and give relief to the team in the case of multiple starts in a row where the bullpen is used heavily.
The Minnesota Twins also have some arms that would work well in multiple innings in prospects Ryan Eades and Tyler Jay, who both showed well in the Arizona Fall League. Reliever Tyler Duffey could also go multiple innings in a long relief role for the team, moving him out of high-stress situations for the team.
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The Minnesota Twins could go many routes to handle the absence of Ervin Santana for likely around a month of the regular season. It will be very interesting to see which route they choose to pursue!