Padres to cut ties with Wells today as Young comes off DL

David Wells is finished with his hometown San Diego Padres, and it's possible that the career of one of baseball's most boisterous characters could be over.

General manager Kevin Towers said Wednesday that the Padres will cut ties with the struggling 44-year-old left-hander today in order to activate All-Star Chris Young from the disabled list.

Towers said he and manager Bud Black met with the Boomer on Tuesday night after the Padres' game in St. Louis.

"We informed him that he would not make his next start," Towers told The Associated Press. "We kind of laid out some options for him. If he still wanted to play, we'll designate him for assignment and see if other clubs have interest, or if he wants to hang them up, he can retire. We're waiting for him to get back to us."

Wells has struggled in his last four starts, including Monday night when the Cardinals tied a major league record with 10 consecutive hits in a 10-run fifth inning. He is 0-3 with a 14.33 ERA in his last four starts. He gave up seven runs and 11 hits in four-plus innings on Monday.

Wells couldn't be reached for comment. It was unknown whether he will retire or try to finish the season with another team. Overall, he's 5-8 with a 5.54 ERA this season.

Sore leg sidelines A-Rod for one game: Alex Rodriguez, hit on his right calf by a pitch from Toronto's Josh Towers on Tuesday, wasn't in the starting lineup for only the second time this season.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said before Wednesday night's game that he didn't expect Rodriguez to miss significant time, adding that Toronto's artificial turf played into the decision to hold A-Rod out.

"It doesn't seem to be anything the trainers are concerned about," Torre said.

Torre and Roger Clemens were ejected after Clemens hit Alex Rios in the middle of the back in the seventh. Several Blue Jays were angry at Rodriguez after he distracted Howie Clark on a key popup late in a game on May 30, yelling at the infielder as A-Rod approached third base. Toronto's Jesse Litsch threw behind Rodriguez's legs in A-Rod's first at-bat in Monday's series opener.

Rodriguez didn't take batting practice Wednesday and didn't speak with reporters. Wilson Betemit started at third base.

Martinez struggles in first rehab start: Pedro Martinez was optimistic after his first rehab start, even through he struggled through three innings and was pulled before reaching his target pitch count.

Martinez gave up five runs and six hits in the Class A St. Lucie Mets' game against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, as he attempts to return to the New York rotation after offseason shoulder surgery.

Martinez struck out five and threw 44 of his 63 pitches for strikes. He did not walk a batter, but was hit hard when he missed.

Helton leaves game with back spasms: Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton left Wednesday's game with the Milwaukee Brewers with back spasms in the third inning.

"This was a precautionary move," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "We wanted to make sure nothing was wrong."

Jeff Baker pinch hit for Helton in the third inning with the Rockies leading the Brewers 10-0. Baker replaced Helton in the field in the top of the fourth.

Helton was listed as day-to-day.

Cubs place Pagan on DL: The Chicago Cubs put outfielder Angel Pagan on the 15-day disabled list and recalled outfielder Felix Pie from Triple-A Iowa.

Manager Lou Piniella said Pagan has colitis, a digestive disease. Pagan traveled back to Chicago for treatment.

Pagan was batting .264 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 71 games.

Pie is getting recalled for the third time this season. He's hit .216 with two home runs, 19 runs scored and 18 RBIs in 48 games with the Cubs this season.

Twins' Buscher may be hospitalized because of leg infection: Minnesota Twins rookie infielder Brian Buscher has a rapidly growing infection in his leg and was flown back to Minneapolis where he may be hospitalized.

The infection apparently stems from when Buscher fouled a ball off his right leg "five or six days ago," manager Ron Gardenhire said. He said Buscher would be placed on the disabled list and the contract of infielder Tommy Watkins would be purchased from Triple-A Rochester.

Nationals' Young leaves game because of left hamstring tightness: Washington Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young left Wednesday night's game against the Giants in the second inning because of tightness in his left hamstring.

Young, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Nationals in late July, apparently hurt himself while running out a routine grounder to shortstop in the first.

The Rio Mesa High graduate, hitting .333, is hitless in six at-bats since hitting a home run in the 10th inning of Monday night's 3-2 loss to San Francisco.

Robert Fick, a Newbury Park High graduate, replaced Young in the lineup.

Hafner leaves game with sore knee: Cleveland Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner left Wednesday's game against the White Sox because of tightness in his left knee. He will be re-evaluated today.

Hafner went 0 for 2 and was replaced in the sixth inning by pinch hitter Jason Michaels, who hit an RBI single to tie the game at 2.

Hafner entered the game batting .255 with 18 home runs and 70 RBI in 109 games. In Hafner's first five years, he never played more than 140 games.

Reds claim ex-Mariners outfielder Ellison: Outfielder Jason Ellison was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds from the Seattle Mariners.

Cincinnati also said outfielder-infielder Ryan Freel's season is over. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage and clean out his right knee, a day after he was put on the disabled list. Freel is expected to recover by spring training.

Ellison, who batted .283 in 63 games this season, is expected to join the Reds today, when they will make a roster move. The Reds had 12 position players on the roster for Wednesday night's game with Los Angeles. Ellison was let go by the Mariners this month when they called up top prospect Adam Jones.

The 29-year-old spent most of the 2005 and 2006 seasons with San Francisco, batting .264 with four home runs and 14 stolen bases in 2005. He began last season with the Giants, played most of the second half with Triple-A Fresno, then was recalled in September.

He was traded to Seattle on April 1 for left-hander Travis Blackley.