ANAHEIM, Calif. — The struggling Los Angeles Angels activated outfielder Vernon Wells from the 15-day disabled list before Tuesday night’s game with the Tampa Bay Rays, hoping four weeks off can ignite Wells’ bat and lift them from their offensive doldrums.

Wells had been on the DL since May 10 with a strained groin.

The Angels have scored three runs or fewer in six straight games and 17 of their last 30. Wells was batting .183 with 30 strikeouts in 35 games before the injury in his first season with the Angels. The Angels went 9-16 in Wells’ absence and slipped 6½ games in the standings.

“No matter what the numbers have been, I think I can bring some things to this team that can help us moving forward,” Wells said. “Yeah, it’s part of my job and it’s part of a lot of guys’ jobs to be a spark plug in different areas. There are different facets to this game. I’m looking forward to it.”

Wells, baseball’s second highest-paid player, played just two minor league rehab games before Tuesday’s move. He was batting seventh and playing center field Tuesday night at Angel Stadium, though his primary position will remain left.

The three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner was acquired from Toronto during the winter with four years and $86 million remaining on a $126 million, seven-year contract he signed with the Blue Jays.

The Angels had been struggling to deal with the absence of both Wells and Howie Kendrick, their leading hitter this season. Since Kendrick came back from a strained hamstring on Saturday he has gone 0-for-10.

The Angels don’t expect Wells to singlehandedly lift them from their hitting funk, but they feel his veteran presence will improve their lineup eventually.

“You’re definitely seeing a guy who’s been out for about a month. No matter what you do in the minor leagues or in batting practice to get re-acclimated to major league pitching might take a couple games,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Not that he’s not going to square some balls up and hit them hard.”

The Angels optioned utility man Alexi Amarista to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room on the roster for Wells.

Mark Saxon covers the Angels for ESPNLosAngeles.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Follow Mark Saxon on Twitter: @markasaxon

The Cliff Lee race welcomed a new participant Tuesday, as the Los Angeles Angels reached out to representatives for the free-agent left-hander, a source told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick.

The Angels, who had previously been viewed as potential frontrunners for free agents Carl Crawford and Rafael Soriano, joined the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals as teams known to have an interest in Lee.

The source could not immediately confirm if the Angels have made an offer for Lee. But Angels general manager Tony Reagins said earlier Tuesday he has not made an offer to any free agents yet.

A baseball source said the chances of Lee signing a contract before the end of the winter meetings is “doubtful.”

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is on the verge of making Cliff Lee a very lucrative offer. Cashman is just waiting for the green light from the player’s agent.

“I’m willing to get serious,” said Cashman, who once again was scheduled to talk with agent Darek Braunecker on Tuesday night.

Cashman said Braunecker is setting the pace of the negotiations so the Yankees must go step for step with him.

The Rangers also continued their pursuit of Lee on Tuesday. Team president Nolan Ryan said that he’s more encouraged now than he was a week ago about the prospect of his club landing the pitcher.

“There doesn’t seem to be anybody that’s stepped out and seems to be the lead pursuer,” Ryan said.

Ryan said no offers have been made to Lee and general managing partner Chuck Greenberg added that the talks are still “preliminary.” The Rangers met briefly on Tuesday for the second straight day.

Meanwhile, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, speaking with Washington-area reporters, downplayed his team’s chances of signing Lee.

“I still think we’re a real long shot to acquire the player,” he said.

Jerry Crasnick is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from ESPNNewYork.com’s Andrew Marchand, ESPNDallas.com’s Richard Durrett, ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Mark Saxon and The Associated Press was used in this report.