MINNEAPOLIS -- With Francisco Liriano's pitching arm still bothering him, the Minnesota Twins purchased the contract of right-hander Matt Garza from Triple-A Rochester yesterday.

Garza, the team's first-round draft pick in 2005, has made a fast rise through the minors, dominating at every stop. He was 3-1 with a 1.85 E.R.A. and 33 strikeouts in five starts for the Red Wings. In his minor league career, Garza is 18-8 with a 2.73 E.R.A. and 243 strikeouts in 37 starts.

The Twins have long believed in not rushing young arms to the big leagues, but the move with Garza became necessary when Liriano -- a contender for the Cy Young Award in the A.L. -- continued to feel pain in his left arm after his start on Monday in Detroit.

Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire called it "a muscular problem" and said Liriano would be checked out by team doctors after the Twins return to Minneapolis today. The pitcher has not been put on the disabled list, but such a move would be a crippling blow to the team's playoff chances.

Liriano's move from the bullpen to the starting lineup in May coincided with a remarkable run by the Twins that helped them rebound from a poor start and get right back into the A.L. wild card race.

But the 22-year-old Dominican had some discomfort before a scheduled start on Aug. 2 and was scratched because of inflammation in his left forearm. He returned to the rotation on Monday night, but was beaten up by the Tigers.

Liriano gave up four runs and a season-high 10 hits in just four innings. Afterward, he said the pain in his arm had gotten worse.

"It started bothering me in the second inning," Liriano said. "It really bothered me. I couldn't throw fastball, changeup, slider or anything."

To make room for Garza, who joined the team for last night's game against the Tigers, the Twins optioned right-hander Mike Smith to Rochester. Smith gave up four earned runs in three innings of his only start for the Twins.

Garza started the year at Class A Fort Myers, going 5-1 with a 1.42 E.R.A. and 53 strikeouts in eight starts. He was 6-2 with a 2.51 E.R.A. and 68 strikeouts in 10 starts at Double-A New Britain before being promoted to Rochester.

ROUNDUP

KAZMIR PROGRESSES: Scott Kazmir's previously sore shoulder felt so good after a brief workout Monday that the Devil Rays sent J.P. Howell, the pitcher who had been replacing him, back to Triple-A Durham. That means that barring an unexpected setback in a more rigorous bullpen session today, Kazmir will return to the mound Friday in Oakland for his first start since July 23. Kazmir said his shoulder has felt fine, and Monday was just a matter of getting closer during a 15- to 20-pitch session to simulating game conditions.

LEDEE TO METS: Ricky Ledee is headed back to the Big Apple, this time with the New York Mets. The backup outfielder was placed on waivers Monday night by the Los Angeles Dodgers and quickly claimed by New York. The N.L. East leaders were looking for a left-handed bat off the bench now that switch-hitting second baseman Jose Valentin and outfielder Endy Chavez are playing regularly.

LEE SIGNS: Cliff Lee signed a three-year, $14-million contract extension with the Cleveland Indians yesterday, another long-term commitment for a young player the club considers key to winning in the future. Lee's deal includes a club option for the 2010 season. The 27-year-old left-hander is 9-8 with a 4.75 E.R.A. in a team-high 33 starts.

SCHRODER TO NATS: The Washington Nationals purchased the contract of right-hander Chris Schroder from Triple-A New Orleans on yesterday, with the reliever taking the roster spot of traded pitcher Livan Hernandez. Schroder was 2-1 with one save and a 1.52 E.R.A. in 28 appearances at New Orleans this season.

50-GAME BAN: Major League Baseball suspended New York Yankees minor-league pitcher Daniel McCutchen for 50 games yesterday for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The right-hander plays for the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs of the South Atlantic League, where he is 1-0 with one save and a 2.14 E.R.A. in seven games.

BLAKE TO DL: Casey Blake was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle by the Cleveland Indians, who recalled first baseman Ryan Garko from Triple-A Buffalo yesterday. Blake rolled his ankle Saturday night in Detroit while scrambling back to second base on a line out in the ninth inning.

RAMIREZ OUT: Braves pitcher Horacio Ramirez has a partially torn ligament in his left middle finger and will be placed on the disabled list, perhaps the final setback in an injury-plagued season. Manager Bobby Cox said yesterday there's a "good chance" that Ramirez is done for the year.

SWEENEY ACTIVATED: The Kansas City Royals, who have the worst record in baseball, activated five-time All-Star Mike Sweeney from the 60-day disabled list. Sweeney a first baseman and designated hitter, missed 88 games with a bulging disk,in his back. He last played May 1.