Aug. 25--REPORTING FROM DETROIT -- Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella, one of the team's more consistent offensive performers this season, was put on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday for what the Angels called a "personal medical condition."
Because of health information privacy rules, the Angels were not at liberty to disclose Giavotella's illness, but the condition is not considered serious, and he is expected to return this season.
Giavotella, who is batting .265 with three home runs, 21 doubles and 40 runs batted in, left Angel Stadium before last Friday night's game against Toronto and missed the three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
He did make it to the park for Sunday's game and told reporters that he was suffering from flu-like symptoms. He did not accompany the team to Detroit.
"It's going to take me a couple more days to get back to feeling good again," Giavotella said on Sunday. "I'm just trying to get my strength back up."
With the bullpen combining to throw 20 1/3 innings in the last four games, lopsided losses to the Chicago White Sox and Toronto, the Angels called up right-hander Drew Rucinski from triple-A Salt Lake to take Giavotella's roster spot.
In other roster news, third baseman Conor Gillaspie, who was designated for assignment on Aug. 18, cleared waivers and was outrighted to triple-A. Third baseman David Freese (broken right index finger), who began a rehabilitation assignment at Salt Lake as a designated hitter on Sunday, is expected to begin playing the field by the end of this week.
