MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Power Hitters Who Could Be on the Move

With only 10 days remaining to the 2010 MLB trade deadline, teams pursuing big bats are starting to scramble.

The Chicago White Sox are reportedly pressuring the Milwaukee Brewers to accelerate a deal for slugging first baseman Prince Fielder.

The San Francisco Giants, hotly pursuing the surprising San Diego Padres, are also seeking an impact bat, and they're casting a wide net stretching from Wisconsin to Texas to Kansas to Florida.

All across the majors teams and their fans are starting to feel the tension.

Can our team acquire the bat we need without selling the farm? Can we win the division or the wild card without it? What if our rivals get the one we're after?

As we count down to another trade deadline, clicking refresh repeatedly and watching that scroll bar relentlessly, let's take a look at the Top 10 Power Hitters That Could Be Traded.

10. B.J. Upton

Hitting only .230 with eight dingers, B.J. Upton has been struggling through most of 2010, but the soon-to-be 26-year-old outfielder has too many raw skills for his dominant 2007 to be a thing entirely of the past.

In fact, eight homers already represents an increase in power for the trouble-embroiled Ray who has been mentioned more and more in trade rumors since he clashed with third baseman Evan Longoria after dogging a play toward the end of June.

Most recently, Upton has been mentioned as part of a three team deal that would send Roy Oswalt to Philadelphia, but Upton could just as easily find himself on a real contender as the Tampa Bay Rays seem eager to dump him before he hits free agency.

Perhaps Upton just needs a change of scenery or a shift to the largely softer National League to rediscover his early successes.

Watch him closely. If he's inexplicably out of the lineup, look for a big deal coming down.

9. David DeJesus

The Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants have been most connected to Kansas City's versatile outfielder who doesn't hit free agency for another year.

While David DeJesus doesn't make much use of the long ball, his .446 slugging percentage constitutes a powerful sidekick to his .320 batting average.

The Royals seem intent on dealing DeJesus, and wherever he lands, he'll make an immediate and powerful impact for his new team.

8. Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman hasn't been mentioned much in trade rumors this month. In fact, the most he's been heard of in the past few days has been in an emphatic denial that the Chicago White Sox are pursuing him.

Certainly Berkman's deflated .247 average has reduced his trade value, and the soon-to-be free agent would come as a rather expensive rental if the Astros wanted another team to pick up the remainder of his $14.5 million salary.

Acknowledging that, Berkman still has power. He has launched 12 homers this season and should be able to knock out as many or more in the second half. As a power bat off the bench, Berkman could still be an intimidating threat.

While he might not be dealt before the deadline, Berkman might not clear waivers come August. The Red Sox and Yankees could be find themselves tempted.

7. Cody Ross

Most recently tied to the Boston Red Sox' search for an impact outfielder to supplement their triaged foursome of Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron, Jeremy Hermida, and JD Drew, Florida Marlin Cody Ross could definitely be dealt to a contender within the next 10 days.

Cody Ross is having a bit of an off year. While his average is slightly inflated at .277, his power has thus far somewhat eluded him. Over the course of 2008 and 2009, Ross struck 46 home runs, but he's been limited to only seven bombs on the 2010 campaign.

If the 29-year-old righty has a latent power surge waiting to erupt in the second half of the season, a playoff contender like the Red Sox could benefit tremendously.

6. Jorge Cantu

The San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Angels seem to be most interested renting Jorge Cantu before he hits free agency this offseason. Projecting as neither a Type A nor a Type B free agent, Cantu is a salary dump the Florida Marlins simply must make in the next 10 days.

Retaining him has little value for Florida, and their best chance at some kind of return exists in accepting even marginal prospects in the here and now.

The 28-year-old Cantu is yet another Marlin who is having a depressed and depressing year at the plate, but he could easily turn it around on his .261 average and transform his 10 homers into 25.

Cantu is one of the top trade candidates to watch over the next week and a half.

5. Jayson Werth

Jayson Werth has been the second most discussed soon-to-be free agent outfielder in the Majors this year. While the first most discussed, Carl Crawford, isn't going anywhere before the trade deadline, Philadelphia's diamond in the rough probably is.

Most recently associated with a three-team deal that would land Roy Oswalt in Philadelphia, Werth is en route to another stellar year. He's batting .283 and slugging .505 and has hit 13 homers.

No, he's not the most dominant hitter on the market, but he's one of the most available, and he likely won't be long for the Phillies.

4. Jose Bautista

Twenty-six homers about sums up the kind of year Jose Bautista is having and the kind of impact he could make on a playoff contender.

It's no surprise that FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal suggests that the Toronto Blue Jays' asking price is too high for teams like the New York Yankees, but that doesn't mean Bautista won't find a new home in the next 10 days.

Certain teams are starting to seem a bit desperate in their search for a power hitter, and there are few better this year than Jose Bautista.

While this writer believes the Blue Jays should strongly consider hanging on to the shock of 2010, the return on him might never be better.

3. Corey Hart

Although teammate Prince Fielder is apparently generating more interest on the trade market, Corey Hart and his 22 home runs are probably more affordable for most teams whose appetites are bigger than their stomachs.

Still, settling for Hart in this career year he's putting together would be like taking the filet mignon because the Chilean Sea Bass is "Price on Request."

Currently, the San Francisco Giants have expressed the most interest, but don't rule out a desperate Sox franchise, whether it be in Chicago or Boston.

2. Adam Dunn

Not only has Adam Dunn knocked 22 homers this season and is well on pace to hit his traditional 40, he is also suddenly hitting for average and currently owns a .283 mark.

Projecting as a Type A free agent, Dunn would most certainly decline salary arbitration and net the Nationals a first-round compensation pick, but they would be fools to think they can do better in the draft than at the trade deadline.

The list of suitors for Dunn includes virtually every playoff contender, and the team that gets him could make leaps and bounds in the race to October.

1. Prince Fielder

Likely to edge out Adam Dunn in homers and strike out a fair amount less, Prince Fielder looks to make the biggest improvement on any contending team that might acquire him.

This season, Fielder has knocked out 23 homers and is hitting a lower-than-usual .263 with a .506 slugging percentage.

The average should rise, and that would mean a torrid second half.