BALTIMORE (AP) -Right-hander Danys Baez was activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday, eager to rebound from a poor start in his first season with the Baltimore Orioles.
Baez signed a $19 million, three-year contract during the offseason and was given the role of setup man. But he lost the job in late May after a series of ineffective outings, and was placed on the disabled list on June 16 with a strained right forearm.
Baez was 0-4 with a 6.52 ERA in 31 games. He made three rehab appearances at Double-A Bowie, allowing one run and three hits in four innings.
“The most important thing is I feel more confident now with my pitches,” he said. “No pain, no tightness, no soreness, anything. Everything feels good in my arm.”
Interim manager Dave Trembley hopes Baez can return to the form he displayed over the previous six seasons, when he had 111 saves and a 3.79 ERA for Cleveland, Tampa Bay, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.
“It’s kind of like a fresh start for him. We’re all hoping that the second half of the season for him – and for a lot of other guys – is to improve,” Trembley said. “I can’t tell you when I’m going to pitch him, but he’ll be pitched late in the ballgame.”
To make room for Baez, the Orioles sent left-hander Kurt Birkins to Triple-A Norfolk. Birkins is 0-1 with a 10.00 ERA in three stints with Baltimore this season.
“It’s a lot better to do this than to stay in Triple-A the whole year,” Birkins said before packing his bags. “It’s a little frustrating at times, not having one place to live and living out of hotels here, but at the same time they needed someone and I did my best to fill the void.”
Birkins will be used as a starter at Norfolk.
“It’s part of the learning process. I’m just trying to take it positively,” he said. “I wasn’t getting as many innings here as I was down there. Maybe I can work on a few things and that will make me better in the long run.”
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