Lee, Young both suspended

Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee and San Diego pitcher Chris Young were suspended for five games each Monday following a bench-clearing brawl last weekend.

Cubs hitting coach Gerald Perry was suspended for three games for his role in Saturday’s fight at Wrigley Field.

San Diego’s Brian Giles and Jake Peavy also were fined.

•Philadelphia third-base coach Steve Smith was suspended for three games and catcher Carlos Ruiz for one following an argument in Sunday’s game against Detroit. The players’ union appealed Ruiz’s suspension.

Rogers nears return

Kenny Rogers will make his first start of the season on Friday when the Detroit Tigers begin a three-game series against Atlanta.

The 42-year-old left-hander has been on the disabled list all season after having surgery March 30 to remove a blood clot from his left shoulder.

Clearing the bases

The Yankees signed Kai Liu, a 19-year-old left-handed pitcher, and Zhenwang Zhang, a 19-year-old catcher, saying they are the first Chinese players to sign with a major league team with the approval of the country’s baseball association. … Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi has until Thursday to agree to a meeting with steroids investigator George Mitchell or face possible discipline from baseball commissioner Bud Selig. … The suspension of Pirates closer Matt Capps was cut from four games to three for hitting Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder with a pitch on May 5. … The St. Louis Cardinals placed center fielder Jim Edmonds and pitcher Braden Looper on the 15-day disabled list. … The San Francisco Giants placed infielder Rich Aurilia on the 15-day DL with a sore neck. … Rickie Weeks returned from the 15-day DL for the Milwaukee Brewers. … The Boston Red Sox released left-handed reliever J.C. Romero. … Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jason Schmidt is going back on the DL because of a right shoulder problem. … The Blue Jays ended their experiment with pitcher Tomo Ohka, giving the right-hander his unconditional release.