Straily designated for assignment and Means placed on IL

The Orioles have designated Dan Straily for assignment today while also losing the most effective pitcher on their staff.

John Means is headed to the 10-day injured list with a strained left shoulder. The move is backdated to Monday and he's eligible to return for the series against the Indians that begins June 28 at Camden Yards.

A series of moves today also included outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. coming off the concussion injured list and returning to the active roster and reliever Evan Phillips being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk for the fifth time this season.

Phillips was optioned again on June 14, but he's eligible to return now because he's replacing an injured player.

Straily signed on April 5 and has registered a 9.82 ERA and 1.993 WHIP with 22 home runs surrendered in only 47 2/3 innings.

Since tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on June 12, Straily has allowed 13 runs and 12 hits with seven home runs in 3 2/3 innings. He's averaging 13.8 hits and 4.2 home runs and walking 4.2 batters per nine innings.

The Orioles can attempt to trade Straily, though the market has got to be dry. He also could be released, the course taken by the Marlins before he signed with the Orioles.

Straily's contract with the Orioles guaranteed $575,000 in salary and included a $250,000 trade bonus.

Means has been one of the top rookies in baseball with a 2.67 ERA and 1.146 WHIP in 16 games (12 starts) over 70 2/3 innings. He faced the Red Sox on Sunday and allowed two runs in five innings and stated afterward that it was "really a grind."

"I didn't have anything today," he said.

Means was supposed to start Friday night in Seattle. The Orioles could go with an opener again, as they did yesterday in Oakland.

Smith played two rehab games with Norfolk and homered last night against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He went on the concussion injured list after crashing into the left field fence in Arlington, Texas.

Phillips has appeared in 15 games with the Orioles and registered a 7.71 ERA and 2.082 WHIP in 16 1/3 innings.

The Orioles are playing tonight with a four-man bench.

Outfielder Ademar Rifaela has been transferred from Double-A Bowie to Norfolk. Dalton Hoiles, son of former Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles, joins Bowie from short-season Single-A Aberdeen.