MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Players Who Should Be Dealt, But Will Not Be

With the All-Star Game just around the corner, the rumor mill has cooled down, at least for the time being, as we focus our attention to the Mid-Summer Classic.

Once the festivities are over, though, the wheeling and dealing will be in full swing, and with so many clear-cut buyers and sellers, you can expect a good number of deals.

While it is a foregone conclusion that Cliff Lee will be moved, many of the other top players on the trade block could very well see the deadline come and go without switching teams, for one reason or another.

Here are the 10 players that should be traded, but will find themselves still suiting up for their current team come season's end.

Wilson Ramos

#58 on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects

Why He Should Be Dealt:

Ramos is a main piece of the deal that could bring Cliff Lee to the Twins, who are right in the thick of things in the AL Central, and with Joe Mauer locked up for the foreseeable future, Ramos is expendable.

Why He Will Not Be Dealt:

The Twins may find it tough to swallow trading away the farm for the right to rent Cliff Lee for a few months. Lee is a free agent at the end of the season, and after the Twins gave Mauer such a huge contract, it is doubtful that they would open up the checkbook again to re-sign Lee.

David DeJesus

Season stats: .329 BA, 5 HR, 35 RBI

Why He Should Be Dealt:

The constantly rebuilding Royals hold one of the more appealing outfield options this trade deadline, and DeJesus currently has a stellar .864 OPS. His value may never be higher, and considering he's already 30, he could be long retired by the time the Royals are ready to contend again.

Why He Will Not Be Dealt:

The Royals have a club option for just $6 million for next season with DeJesus, relatively cheap for his level of production. That, coupled with the fact that he projects to be a Type-A free agent once his contact does run out. should be reason enough for the Royals to hold onto him.

Bobby Jenks

Season stats: 18 saves, 4.11 ERA, 10.9 K/9

Why He Should Be Dealt:

The White Sox struck gold when they plucked Jenks from the scrap heap before the 2005 season, but he has struggled mightily this season. The White Sox have a fantastic backup option in All-Star setup man Matt Thornton, who has posted a 12.4 K/9 mark so far this season.

Why He Will Not Be Dealt:

While there are a few teams interested, there are a number of cheaper, more appealing options on the market in Octavio Dotel, Kevin Gregg, and Matt Lindstrom, so finding a taker could be tough for the White Sox. Also, the team would prefer to leave Thornton in his eighth inning role if possible.

Jose Bautista

Season stats: .233 BA, 21 HR, 52 RBI

Why He Should Be Dealt:

The term "sell high" gets thrown around a lot, and that is exactly what the Blue Jays should do with Bautista, as his stock will NEVER be higher than it is right now. They should be happy with a pair of prospects in return and part ways while he's still valuable.

Why He Will Not Be Dealt:

While they are not in contention, the Blue Jays are slowly becoming a rather fun team to watch with their free-swinging mentality, and it's Bautista at the heart of it all. The team may just be testing the waters to see what sort of return Bautista would bring them, and I don't think they have any intention of moving their diamond in the rough.

Lance Berkman

Season stats: .243 BA, 9 HR, 40 RBI

Why He Should Be Dealt:

The Astros are bad, really bad, and while Berkman is not the player he once was, he would still be a nice bat for a contender to add. With the Astros smack in the middle of a rebuilding mode, they would be wise to get what they can while Berkman still has some value.

Why He Will Not Be Dealt:

Berkman has a no-trade clause, and a $15 million option next season. Unless he can find a team willing to agree to pick up that option, there is no chance of him agreeing to any deal—and a team willing to do that will not be easy to find.

Derrek Lee

Season stats: .230 BA, 10 HR, 36 RBI

Why He Should Be Dealt:

It hurts me to say this as a Cubs fan, but the fact of the matter is the Cubs need to start looking to next season, and the fire sale should start with Lee. The 34-year-old first baseman is a free agent at season's end, and it was doubtful the Cubs would re-sign him, even before his poor showing this season.

Why He Will Not Be Dealt:

Chances are the Cubs will have a fairly steep asking price for Lee on the trade market and, with his offensive struggles and expiring contract, he is simply not as attractive a player as he once was. While the Angels are in need of a first baseman, there are cheaper and frankly better options out there for them.

B.J. Upton

Season stats: .224 BA, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 24 SB

Why He Should Be Dealt:

Upton has proven to be frustratingly inconsistent in the past two seasons, and his recent dugout shenanigans seem to have at least left the Rays open to the idea of moving him. With top prospect Desmond Jennings nearly ready, and the team hoping to re-sign Carl Crawford, dealing Upton makes sense.

Why He Will Not Be Dealt:

Upton is still just 25, and he is among the most physically gifted players in all of baseball. The team still has full control of him for two more seasons, and he should make right around the $3 million that he made this season, which is not a huge hit to the payroll. In the end, keeping him just makes sense, as he could still easily rebound to his 2007 form.

Prince Fielder

Season stats: .262 BA, 18 HR, 36 RBI

Why He Should Be Dealt:

The fact of the matter is, the chances of the Brewers retaining Fielder once his contract expires after the 2011 season are slim to none, and with a number of teams in the market for a big bat, they would be wise to strike while the iron is hot and stock up on prospects for the future now.

Why He Will Not Be Dealt:

The Brewers seem to still be holding onto the hope that they will be able to come to terms on an extension at some point, and if there is any chance of that happening, it is awfully hard to trade away a player of Fielder's caliber.

Roy Oswalt

Season stats: 5-10, 3.32 ERA, 104 Ks

Why He Should Be Dealt:

If the Astros truly like Oswalt, they will spare him the chances of a 20-loss season while posting one of the league's best ERAs. Truthfully though, outside of Cliff Lee, and perhaps Dan Haren, Oswalt is the most attractive name on the market and could make for a big return package.

Why He Will Not Be Dealt:

Things get a bit tricky when you look at Oswalt's contract. He is signed through 2011, with a $16 million option for 2012 with a $2 million buyout. That makes for quite an investment for whoever picks him up, and the Astros would almost certainly have to absorb a good portion of that money, in which case they may as well just keep their ace, which is what I think they'll do.

Adrian Gonzalez

Season stats: .293 BA, 16 HR, 52 RBI

Why He Should Be Dealt:

Despite the fact that the Padres are the surprise team of the season to this point, Gonzalez may still be on the block, simply because of the fact that he is far and away the most attractive hitter available. The Padres could actually stand to improve with the right deal, so they should be open to at least listening to offers.

Why He Will Not Be Dealt:

First-place teams don't just go and trade away their franchise players at the trade deadline. It would take at least two of Boston's top-tier prospects, and probably more, and in the end I think the price will be too steep for the Red Sox