MLB Trade Speculation 2011: Profiling the Pittsburgh Pirates' 6 Best Prospects

As we approach the end of the month of July, the MLB trade rumors and speculation starts to kick up. For those that follow the NL Central, there could be a lot of noise made over the next few weeks since there is a logjam at the top of the standings.

The Milwaukee Brewers fired the first shot of the trade season, by acquiring closer Francisco Rodriguez from the debt-riddled New York Mets. Time will tell if the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates follow suit.

In Pittsburgh, you have to go back to 1992 to find the last season that the Buccos made it to the All-Star Break with a record above .500. Currently, the team is one game out of first place with a 47-43 record.

That record has GM Neal Huntington in a position he has not been in before: potential buyer at the trade deadline. For most of the past 20 years, the Pirates have been sellers at the trade deadline.

One of the last impact "buys" made by the team was the August 1990 deal that brought pitcher Zane Smith to town in exchange for a few prospects. One of those prospects was Moises Alou, who went on to a long career himself.

If the Pirates are looking for something at the deadline, they would likely have to give up one of the team's top prospects. When you look at this list from PiratesProspects.com, you can see some names that the Pirates are not going to give up for a rent-a-player.

The question you have to ask yourself as a Pirates fan, is it worth giving up one of these players to get a bat for the rest of season? Personally, there are not many players on the list that I would give up, but at the same time the NL Central seems to be as winnable as it could possibly be for the foreseeable future.

Starling Marte, Outfield

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 170 lbs.

Born: October 9, 1988

From: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

2011 Team: Altoona Curve (AA)

2011 Stats: .314 avg, 79 games, 325 AB, 45 R, 102 H, 23 doubles, 4 triples, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 13 BB, 62 SO, 16 SB, .806 OPS

Bryan Morris, Right Handed Pitcher

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 220 lbs.

Born: March 28, 1987

From: Woodbury, TN

2011 Team: Altoona Curve (AA)

2011 Stats: 1-3 W/L, 3.65 ERA, 17 G, 6 starts, 3 saves, 49.1 IP, 44 H, 23 R, 20 ER, 20 BB, 41 K, .246 Op avg

Rudy Owens, Left Handed Pitcher

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 225 lbs.

Born: December 18, 1987

From: Mesa, AZ

2011 Team: Indianapolis Indians (AAA)

2011 Stats: 6-6 W/L, 5.27 ERA, 16 G, 16 starts, 83.2 IP, 102 H, 51 R, 49 ER, 23 BB, 50 K, .304 Op avg

Tony Sanches, Catcher

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 215 lbs.

Born: May 20, 1988

From: Miami, FL

2011 Team: Altoona Curve (AA)

2011 Stats: .239 avg, 74 games, 251 AB, 27 R, 60 H, 2 doubles, 1 triples, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 29 BB, 41 SO, 4 SB, .650 OPS

Stetson Allie, Right Handed Pitcher

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 220 lbs.

Born: March 13, 1991

From: Olmstead Falls, OH

2011 Team: State College Spikes (Short-Season A)

2011 Stats: 0-0 W/L, 5.40 ERA, 5 G, 4 starts, 15.0 IP, 16 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 12 BB, 17 K, .271 Op avg

Photos courtesy of minorleaguebaseball.com

Jameson Tallion, Right Handed Pitcher

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 225 lbs.

Born: November 18, 1991

From: The Woodlands, TX

2011 Team: West Virginia Power (A)

2011 Stats: 2-2 W/L, 3.66 ERA, 13 G, 13 starts, 51.2 IP, 51 H, 25 R, 21 ER, 8 BB, 49 K, .256 Op avg

Photos courtesy of  minorleaguebaseball.com