Tribe activates Giambi, recalls Bauer

CLEVELAND -- Jason Giambi has had a place in the Indians' clubhouse all season, but the veteran is ready to also begin having a spot in the lineup once again. With two stints on the disabled list already this year, Giambi is hoping to finally put all the waiting behind him.

Prior to Tuesday's game against the Tigers, the Indians activated the 43-year-old Giambi from the 15-day DL, following his bout with a right calf strain. Cleveland also recalled right-hander Trevor Bauer and utility man Justin Sellers from Triple-A, and optioned first baseman Jesus Aguilar, lefty T. J. House and infielder Jose Ramirez to Triple-A to clear three spots on the active roster.

"I'm excited to be back," said Giambi, who landed on the DL to start the season after fracturing a rib in his right side during the spring. "I went basically broken rib, played a few games and then calf injury. That kind of happens when you get that short Spring Training and you don't really get to play much."

Giambi was most recently placed on the 15-day DL on May 5 after sustaining a right calf injury in a game against the White Sox one day earlier. The veteran DH and pinch-hitter has gone 0-for-10 for Cleveland this season between two stints on the DL.

For Tuesday's game, Giambi was on the bench in order for Lonnie Chisenhall (.371 average through 32 games) to be in the lineup against Detroit righty Justin Verlander. Indians manager Terry Francona said Giambi might return to the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

"I'm going to have to figure that one out, because Lonnie is swinging the bat pretty well," Francona said. "We've got a noon game [Wednesday]. We may see if anyone needs a [day off]. I'll figure that out. We'll try to make it work where it helps us on a day when we could use a left-handed bat."

The 23-year-old Bauer (Tuesday's starter for the Tribe) went 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA in seven starts for Columbus this season, and made a spot start for the Indians on April 9 against the Padres. The right-hander is being given the chance to stick in the rotation after Cleveland sent struggling starter Danny Salazar to Triple-A Friday.

Sellers assumes the roster spot previously held by Ramirez, who hit .080 (2-for-25) in 11 games since being called up to fortify the bench on May 2. Sellers has hit .227 with seven doubles, one home run and 15 RBIs in 37 games for Triple-A Columbus. He has appeared in 29 games at shortstop, two games each at second and third base and four games in left field.