MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Most Expendable Players Nobody's Discussing

Cliff Lee was the first big name to get traded, and certainly no player on the block has been more discussed this season. Roy Oswalt, Dan Haren, Corey Hart, and Prince Fielder are the most recognizable of the remaining names that are being bandied about by sports commentators and trade "experts."

Still, others seem to be of interest to every team. David DeJesus and Ty Wigginton get more ink than a pen factory.

However, there are a good number of highly tradeable, highly expendable players out there that haven't yet been ground up by the rumor mill.

These are the top 10 most expendable, and simultaneously, tradeable players you haven't heard talked about.

10. Athletics Outfielder Jack Cust

Free Agency: End of 2011
Current Club: Oakland Athletics
Salary: $2.65 million (Arbitration-eligible)
2010 Batting Line: .294/.434/.398 with 4 HR
Projected Free-Agent Status: N/A

Jack Cust has lost some pop, but he is hitting for a high average instead. Affordable and under control through the end of the 2011 season, the 31-year-old Cust could regain his power, but even if he doesn't, he should remain an attractive bat off the bench.

An above-average defender in left field, Cust could attract a wide range of teams if he were made available. Since the Red Sox already traded for Eric Patterson and are currently having a tiff with the injured Jacoby Ellsbury, perhaps they could use a high-average, plus-defender down the stretch.

9. Blue Jays First Baseman Lyle Overbay

Free Agency: End of 2010
Current Club: Toronto Blue Jays
Salary: $7 million
2010 Batting Line: .247/.412/.327 with 10 HR
Projected Free-Agent Status: NONE

During the offseason, there was talk of Lyle Overbay being shipped to the Arizona Diamondbacks for catcher Chris Snyder. Obviously, that deal never materialized, but Overbay should remain a reasonably attractive option, for a National League club in particular.

Although his 2010 production with the Toronto Blue Jays has been less than stellar, Overbay's bat might translate nicely to some of the more hitter-starved National League teams.

Since he doesn't figure to emerge as even a Type B free agent, Overbay should be very affordable. Surely the Blue Jays would rather pursue more productive, more affordable options in the offseason, and as a power bat off the bench, Overbay could really contribute to a National League contender this season.

8. Athletics Second Baseman Mark Ellis

Free Agency: End of 2010, club option for 2011
Current Club: Oakland Athletics
Salary: $5.5 million ($6 million option)
2010 Batting Line: .278/.356/.347
Projected Free-Agent Status: Type B

Yes, Mark Ellis has been with Oakland since the dawn of time, but he's approaching a contract year and projects as a Type B free agent. Between that Elias ranking, his affordable $6 million club option for 2011, and his .278 average, Ellis could bring a better return as a trade chip now than at any other point for the trade-loving Billy Beane.

California, and Oakland in particular, is hurting financially. Even $6 million is a bit much to pay for a guy like Ellis.

Beane should trade him. Between Boston and Philadelphia, surely there's a buyer for a high-average utility second baseman.

7. Marlins Outfielder Cody Ross

Free Agency: End of 2011
Current Club: Florida Marlins
Salary: $4.45 million
2010 Batting Line: .282/.415/.332 with 7 HR
Projected Free-Agent Status: N/A

The Marlins firesale that isn't a firesale unofficially officially began with the announcement that Ricky Nolasco is available. While the Marlins and MLB will assert otherwise, most baseball fans rightfully suspect that shedding salary is always the priority in Florida.

Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla have long been rumored on the block, and Nolasco was recently added to that list, but Cody Ross only has one year left before free agency, and none should be surprised to see him move.

Ross' batting is strong, and he fields the corner outfield positions far better than average (according to UZR/150). His salary could jump into the $7 million range this offseason, and that doesn't sound like a Marlins salary.

6. Blue Jays Catcher John Buck

Free Agency: End of 2010
Current Club: Toronto Blue Jays
Salary: $2 million
2010 Batting Line: .273/.506/.306 with 13 HR
Projected Free-Agent Status: Type B (Borderline)

In addition to batting a very respectable .273 and slugging 13 homers, John Buck has thrown out about 25 percent of would-be base stealers. There are plenty of contenders who could use that kind of help.

Buck is having a career year. There was a reason Kansas City non-tendered him in December.

LIke his teammate, Alex Gonzalez, Buck may never be worth more to the Blue Jays as a trade chip.

5. Nationals Outfielder Josh Willingham

Free Agency: End of 2011
Current Club: Washington Nationals
Salary: $4.6 million
2010 Batting Line: .281/.502/.411 with 15 HR
Projected Free-Agent Status: N/A

Josh Willingham is having a career year and is hammering for an extension, but the Washington front office is silent. Personally, I think they should go ahead and keep the 31-year-old outfielder if he'll go cheap, but I think their silence means he's more expendable to their long-term plans than he realizes.

Willingham may be having a great year with the bat, but he's a below-average defender. As his salary looks only to increase after this career year, the time to trade him has never been more ripe.

Washington is going nowhere fast right now, and keeping the Strasburgs and Harpers of the world will eventually cost them a pretty penny. Oh right, Bryce Harper—he should be taking Willingham's job before too long anyway.

4. Nationals Shortstop Christian Guzman

Free Agency: End of 2010
Current Club: Washington Nationals
Salary: $8 million
2010 Batting Line: .294/.369/.343
Projected Free-Agent Status: Type B

With top shortstop prospect Ian Desmond waiting in the wings, the Nationals have little need to re-sign projected Type-B free agent shortstop Christian Guzman.

Offering Guzman arbitration would be dangerous, since the 32-year-old might actually accept the offer coming off a strong year.

Certainly only a pro-rated $8 million would be worth the saving for the prospect-heavy Washington franchise.

3. Nationals Pitcher Livan Hernandez

Free Agency: End of 2010
Current Club: Washington Nationals
Salary: $900,000
2010 Batting Line: 3.37 ERA / 1.28 WHIP
Projected Free-Agent Status: NONE

Livan Hernandez was an afterthought, an insurance policy, for the 2010 Nationals. With pitchers Chien-Ming Wang, Jason Marquis, Jordan Zimmermann, and Ross Detwiler all injured for much of the year, the 35-year-old Hernandez has proved beyond useful.

Hernandez has shined for much of the first half, but as Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Farid Rushdi points out, with these other pitchers returning from the disabled list, Hernandez could be shipped to shore up a contender's rotation down the stretch.

2. Blue Jays Shortstop Alex Gonzalez

Free Agency: End of 2010, club option for 2011
Current Club: Toronto Blue Jays
Salary: $2.75 million ($2.5 million option)
2010 Batting Line: .256/.494/.294 with 17 HR
Projected Free-Agent Status: NONE (Type B Borderline)

Although his $2.5 million 2011 club option makes him one of the most affordable shortstops in the game, Alex Gonzalez' stock may never be higher.

2010 contenders should salivate over Gonzalez' game-leading defense and unexpected power surge.

Gonzalez has never hit more than 23 homers in a season, and that was for the 2004 Marlins. This won't continue. Gonzalez' production will probably fall off sharply in 2011, and he'll never achieve better than even Type B status.

The Blue Jays should be listening, other teams should be talking, and the media should be reporting.

1. Nationals Closer Matt Capps

Free Agency: End of 2011
Current Club: Washington Nationals
Salary: $3.5 million
2010 Pitching Line: 3.18 ERA / 1.41 WHIP with 23 Saves
Projected Free-Agent Status: N/A

Having been non-tendered by the Pittsburgh Pirates following the 2009 season, Matt Capps still technically has another year before free agency, but he figures to command a serious raise after this All-Star season.

The Washington Nationals have relished in their signing, but they don't need Capps long-term. Relievers Drew Storen, Doug Slaten, and Tyler Clippard are all capable of taking over. One of them is the Nationals' closer of the future.

As great has Capps has been, the Nationals really shouldn't risk paying him more next year only to see him have an off year. Capps' stock is as high as it will ever be. Time to sell.