Orioles activate Chris Davis, place Matt Wieters on 15 day DL

The Baltimore Orioles activated 1B Chris Davis prior to Sunday's game against the Houston Astros, but they placed All Star Catcher Matt Wieters on the 15 day DL in order to free up a roster spot.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Orioles have reinstated INF Chris Davis from the 15-day disabled list &amp; placed CA Matt Wieters on the 15day DL with a right elbow strain</p>&mdash; Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) <a href="https://twitter.com/Orioles/statuses/465515044982505472">May 11, 2014</a></blockquote>

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Wieters is dealing with an elbow strain that has rendered him unable to effectively catch, and he had been forced into the DH spot for the team's previous 4 games prior to the decision to shut him down.  The two-time All Star and two-time Gold Glove winner had been hitting .308/.339/.500 with 5 HR and 18 RBI for the season, and after a visit with Dr. James Andrews to determine the severity of his elbow injury initially determined he would not need surgery, all parties were optimistic that an extended rehab could be avoided.  Now, that appears to not be the entire case.  The Orioles and Wieters, who is making $7.7 million in his second arbitration year, held initial contract extension talks during the offseason before settling on a 1-year deal, and there has been no evidence of further discussions since the season began.

Wieters' departure does mean the return of Davis, however, who the Orioles will hope can help bolster the offense for the current AL East leaders.  Davis hit 53 homers and drove in 138 runs en route to a third place finish in the 2013 MVP voting, and the reigning Silver Slugger will jump right back into the heart of the Orioles lineup at 1B after a DL stint due to an abdominal strain.  Davis was hitting just .250/.372/.382 through 94 PA when placed on the 15 day DL on April 26th.