Mariners recall outfielder Chris Snelling from AAA Tacoma  —  Designated hitter Carl Everett designated for assignment  —  Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Bill Bavasi announced today that the club has recalled outfielder Chris Snelling from AAA Tacoma.

Sit tight?  It's trade time, silly  —  About that Mets pitching crisis, we'll get a better idea of just how serious it is when Pedro Martinez makes his much-anticipated return to the rotation against the Braves in Atlanta tomorrow night - at which time Omar Minaya will have to decide …

Idea Is to Get Kendrick's Bat in Lineup  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It's hard to think of your best position-playing prospect as a utility player, but if that's what it takes to get Howie Kendrick's potent bat in the lineup, the Angels will do it.  —  Kendrick, who came up through …

Notes: Mays designated for assignment  —  Pitcher's departure leaves Saturday's starter undetermined  —  HOUSTON — The Reds' attempted reclamation project of pitcher Joe Mays came to an end on Wednesday.  —  Mays was designated for assignment when the club needed roster space for the activation …

Odds Favoring No Deal in Race to Upgrade Roster  —  ARLINGTON, Tex., July 26 — The Yankees are growing pessimistic about their chances of making a major move before Monday's trading deadline.  There seem to be few impact players available, and the Yankees have told teams that their top prospects are off limits.

Brewers still considering trading Lee  —  The Brewers are still trying to decide whether to trade left fielder Carlos Lee, still weighing all the variables as the countdown to Monday's non-waiver deadline continues.  —  Lee, 30, is a free agent after this season, and the Brewers plan to make one last push to sign him.

Deal or no deal?  —  Since trade talk changes at the press of a cell phone's send button and names get tossed about like lawn darts at a kegger, we'll allow others to guess what will happen between now and the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline.  —  Instead, we offer five deals that should happen …

Royals pick up arms; Yankees could surprise  —  No general manager wins Executive of the Year for stockpiling pitching prospects, but what else is new Royals GM Dayton Moore supposed to do?  —  Moore obtained five young pitchers this week in deals for right-handed reliever Mike MacDougal …

Rangers GM: Show me something  —  GM keeping eye on market but wants help to come from within  —  ARLINGTON - Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, while still exploring all trade options, is starting to sound a little like Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire.  You can almost see him pleading with his team: "Help me help you."

Notes: Vidro hopes Soriano stays  —  Drese makes third rehab start; Robinson lauds basestealers  —  WASHINGTON — During his 10-year career, second baseman Jose Vidro has seen Nationals/Expos players come and go, from shortstop Orlando Cabrera to outfielder Brad Wilkerson.

Mets would be wise to rest stars for playoffs  —  Seemingly, the New York Mets are in an enviable position these days.  —  They're on pace for 97 wins this season, they hold the largest division lead in all of baseball (11-and-a-half games ahead of the second-place Braves) …

Yanks go for the sweep  —  New York Yankees (58-40) at Rangers (51-50), 7:05 p.m. CT  —  Following victories by Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina, the Yankees will now turn to starter Jaret Wright to complete a sweep of solid starting pitching and the Texas Rangers in the series finale Wednesday.