Padres Put Klesko on Disabled List

The San Diego Padres put left fielder Ryan Klesko, who has a strained muscle in his rib cage, on the 15-day disabled list Friday.

Klesko has struggled this season, batting .261 with one homer and 22 RBIs. He hurt himself April 30 while getting up from pregame stretching, then was hurt again during Wednesday night’s game at Colorado.

The Padres filled his roster spot by purchasing the contract of outfielder Jon Knott from triple-A Portland. Terrence Long is expected to make several starts during Klesko’s absence, but Brian Buchanan started Friday night against Milwaukee left-hander Doug Davis.

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Fred McGriff will get another chance to reach 500 home runs. Hoping to add some offensive pop, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays called up McGriff from triple-A Durham.

The 40-year-old first baseman-designated hitter has 491 homers, and is trying to become the 20th player in major league history to hit 500 homers.

McGriff, who played for the Devil Rays from their inception in 1998 until being traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2001, signed a minor league contract in the off-season. McGriff hit a career-low 13 homers with the Dodgers last season.

McGriff is the Devil Rays’ career leader in most offensive categories, including batting average (.295), home runs (95) and RBIs (352).

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The Chicago Cubs put outfielder Tom Goodwin and pitcher Todd Wellemeyer on the 15-day disabled list and called up shortstop Rey Ordonez from triple-A Iowa.

Goodwin has a strained right groin and Wellemeyer has a strained right shoulder. Wellemeyer’s move was retroactive to May 22 and Goodwin’s move goes back to May 24.

In another move, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. He was eligible to be activated June 9. The Cubs already had put nine players -- including Sammy Sosa, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior -- on the disabled list before this round of moves.

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Third baseman Bill Mueller of the Boston Red Sox underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to remove a piece of cartilage. The defending American League batting champion is expected to be sidelined at least five weeks.