Mariners keeping mum on Cliff Lee  —  But MLB insiders expect former Cy Young winner to be traded before deadline … If you're looking for hints on Seattle pitcher Cliff Lee's next destination, they won't be coming from the horse's mouth.  Right around the time Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan …

Tampa Bay Rays' B.J. Upton surprised, disappointed to be benched for matchup reasons  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Manager Joe Maddon had his reasons for not starting CF B.J. Upton on Monday, primarily Upton's 1-for-13 career mark against Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka compared with four other Rays who Maddon felt needed to play.

Former Alex Rodriguez foe Dallas Braden appalled by Oakland's ‘Get Off My Mound’ T-shirts  —  OAKLAND - Robinson Cano broke out a “Get Off My Mound” T-shirt in the visiting trainer's room before Monday night's game, causing an eruption of laughter inside the Yankees' clubhouse.

Catcher Martinez hasn't received call from team  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It's a familiar scene before Red Sox games.  Victor Martinez shagging flies in the outfield, and watching his son, Victor Jose Martinez, and Little Papi (D'Angelo Ortiz), chasing each other around.

Swisher has early AL Final Vote lead  —  Outfielder trying to win last roster spot for All-Star Game  —  OAKLAND — Nick Swisher heard the buzz spilling from his Bleacher Creatures in right field at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, shortly after Major League Baseball announced nearly all of the participants …

Ex-Cardinal Dmitri Young jailed in Bloomington  —  BLOOMINGTON — Former major league baseball player Dmitri Young was arrested by McLean County Sheriff's Department police early Monday on preliminary charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

POSTGAME NOTES: Sabean has an eye on Brewers, Posey wrist update, notes on Huff, Renteria, Ishikawa, etc.  —  There's a lot of stealth activity at the July 31 trade deadline, and for us beat reporters, that means a whole Chinese province full of tea leaves to read.

Future Shock Blog  —  Minor League Update: Games of July 5  —  Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valley): 2-for-4, HR (4), 2 R, RBI, BB, K, SB.  —  Put him on the short list of prospects that with nearly any other team would be in the big leagues.

Dealin' Dan flipped over Rox's future  —  Dealin' Dan has made 106 trades in 11 years.  —  Daniel J. O'Dowd's office at Coors Field should be called Bartertown.  On Jan. 14, 2000, the Rockies' new general manager pulled off his first deal — sending pitchers Lariel Gonzalez and Bobby Jones to the Mets for pitcher Masato Yoshii.

Madden: Ace stuff not there for Pelfrey  —  For the Mets, it's been kind of a season of mini-seasons, beginning with that 4-8 start that didn't include Ike Davis and certainly didn't bode well for the summer of opportunity it's become.  —  After that, there was the 9-1 first long home stand …

Halladay fires five-hitter as Phils gain on Braves  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nearly an hour after going the distance again, Roy Halladay walked over to reporters with ice on his arm and sweat dripping from his forehead.  —  Maybe it's his postgame workouts that make Halladay such a workhorse on the mound.