Padres’ Wells fined, suspended 7 games

San Diego Padres pitcher David Wells was suspended for seven games and fined $3,000 Thursday by the commissioner’s office for his animated argument with an umpire last weekend.

Wells was ejected by umpire Ed Hickox for questioning calls in the fourth inning of Saturday’s 8-5 win over Atlanta after Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run homer.

The pitcher had to be restrained by Manager Bud Black, and fired a ball against the screen as he walked off the field.

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Rickey Henderson will be the newest coach on the New York Mets’ staff -- when he reaches New York.

Henderson was traveling Thursday as the Mets announced his hiring and the dismissal of hitting coach Rick Down. It has not been decided whether Henderson or first-base coach Howard Johnson will replace Down.

“We don’t know what his role will be yet,” General Manager Omar Minaya said. “We have not defined who will be hitting coach.”

The NL East leaders made other moves, promoting 22-year-old outfielder Lastings Milledge from the minors and designating 48-year-old Julio Franco for assignment. New York also signed Marlon Anderson, who was released by the Dodgers, to a minor league contract.

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The St. Louis Cardinals put right-hander Todd Wellemeyer on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained elbow and activated shortstop David Eckstein.... Oakland put right-hander Rich Harden back on the disabled list because of a strained right shoulder and gave no timeline for his return.