MLB Trade Rumors: Two Players Each Playoff Contender Will Target

The second half of the MLB season is under way, and the trade deadline is just two weeks away. It is now clear who the contenders are and teams will begin to figure out to what level they will be buyers and sellers in the coming days.

Rumors have swirled for months about who would land where, and as teams begin to formally inquire about players, it becomes clear what areas teams will target.

So here is a look at two players that each contending team will look to acquire at the deadline as they look to shore up their roster and get ready for a playoff push.

Atlanta Braves

Carlos Quentin (.263/.349/.492, 18 HR, 55 RBI, 39 R)

It is no secret that the position the Braves are most likely to address at the deadline is outfield, as the team currently has a starting squad of Nate McLouth (.229 BA), Jordan Schafer (.233 BA), and Jason Heyward (.224 BA). The team will get a boost once Martin Prado returns from a staph infection, but nonetheless it is an area that could use improvement.

There are a number of outfield options on the market, but if the White Sox make Quentin available he would represent the top option, and it is because of that fact that he may be made available.

The Braves have a wealth of young pitching, and Brandon Beachy or Randall Delgado would be the most likely to be dealt.

Quentin will cost a bit more, as he is under team control through next season, so the White Sox do not need to deal him, but he would be worth it if the Braves hope to make a run in the second half.

Jeff Keppinger (.305/.319/.416, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 19 R)

While there have been a number of rumors linking the Braves to Astros right fielder Hunter Pence, I think the more likely Houston player to end up in Atlanta is super utility man Keppinger.

With Chipper Jones on the disabled list, the versatile Keppinger could fill that hole for the time being as well as providing insurance down the road, and spelling the ever-struggling Dan Uggla at second base from time to time.

If nothing else, he is a fantastic player to have on the bench during a pennant push, and he should come fairly cheap.

Boston Red Sox

Carlos Beltran (.287/.381/.512, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 54 R)

The Mets look as though they will avoid the fire sale that many anticipated for them, and while it looks like guys like Jose Reyes and Mike Pelfrey will stay put, it is all but a certainty that Beltran will be moved.

How much money the Mets are willing to absorb of what is left of the $18.5 million that Beltran will make this season will determine how many teams can vie for his services, but the most likely destination seems to be Boston, and he has stated that he would waive his no=trade clause to go to a contender.

Randy Choate (43 Games, 0-1, 0.92 ERA, 26 Ks, 19.2 IP)

While the Red Sox have been saddled with injuries to their starting rotation, their biggest need as far as pitching is concerned still lies in the bullpen.

Expected to be a strength at the beginning of the season when the team added Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler, it has instead been a cause for concern, and the most glaring need is a reliable left-hander.

Hideki Okajima is not the pitcher he once was, and the team needs a lefty specialist to fill the role he has in the past. Choate has been fantastic this season, especially against left-handers who have hit just 5-of-53 against him on the season.

The Yankees have significant interest too, so it will be interesting to see who wins.

Cincinnati Reds

Ubaldo Jimenez (5-8, 4.08 ERA, 99 Ks, 110.1 IP)

The Rockies have stated that they are willing to listen to offers on everyone not named Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, so while Jimenez is not technically on the market, he is not untouchable either.

He has not been the pitcher he was in 2010 when he was the talk of the first half, but he has gotten better as the year has gone on and could be in for a big second half.

It would certainly cost the Reds to pick up Jimenez, with the package likely centered around one of their young starters in Mike Leake, Travis Wood, or Homer Bailey. First base prospect Yonder Alonso, who is blocked by Joey Votto, could also be part of the deal with Todd Helton closing in on retirement.

Stick With Zack Cozart and Jonny Gomes

While the Reds have also been rumored to be in the market for a shorstop and left field upgrade, I think the team's best option would be to stand pat with what they have at those positions now.

Cozart has been impressive in five games since being called up, going 8-for-21, and he will be given every chance to be the guy at shortstop over Paul Janish (.227 BA) and Edgar Renteria (.231 BA).

In left field, much has been made of Gomes (.217 BA) poor batting average, but that has done little to deter his on-base percentage which is third on the team at .344.

He also has 11 HR and 31 RBI, and a good backup/platoon partner in Chris Heisey. So I think it would be in the Reds best interest to stick with what they have beyond acquiring Jimenez.

Cleveland Indians

Josh Willingham (.247/.322/.439, 12 HR, 46 RBI, 30 R)

Willingham is among the most likely players in all of baseball to be moved, and he has as many suitors as anyone as every contender in baseball would love to add a power bat like his.

While his .247 average is unimpressive, a closer look shows that he is hitting .333 with runners in scoring position and the fact that he has driven in 46 runs while hitting in the Athletics lineup is borderline amazing.

With Shin-Soo Choo on the disabled list, and Grady Sizemore's health always a concern, Willingham would be a perfect fit in Cleveland.

Erik Bedard (4-6, 3.00 ERA, 85 Ks, 90 IP)

Part of the reason the Indians have been the surprise team of the American League so far this season is because of the breakout performances of Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin, but the Indians will still need to add another arm if they hope to be legitimate contenders.

After missing all of the 2010 season while rehabbing from a shoulder injury, he has been stellar so far this season with a 3.00 ERA and 85 strikeouts over 15 starts.

He is currently on the DL with a knee injury, but it should not be anything that prevents him from pitching well when he returns, and at just $1 million this season, there may be no better bargain on the market.

Detroit Tigers

Derek Lowe (5-7, 4.30 ERA, 81 Ks, 113 IP)

The Tigers have one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in Justin Verlander, but beyond him the Tigers' other four starters all have ERAs over 4.00 and after they recently moved Phil Coke back to the bullpen, they will no doubt be in the market for another starter.

The team showed interest in Lowe this past off season, and rumors have again surfaced that they are looking to acquire him again now.

The Braves have a plethora of young pitchers ready to step up and fill Lowe's spot in the rotation if he is dealt, and they would no doubt be open to shedding the $22.5 million he is due through the end of 2012 if they have the chance.

Melky Cabrera (.293/.331/.450, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 58 R, 14 SB)

While the Tigers' biggest need is pitching, they also have a few holes in their lineup and could stand to add a bat at the deadline as well. Third base is one area of need, but left field has been a revolving door as well, and adding Cabrera could improve the lineup in more ways than one.

Not only would he be a huge upgrade for the Tigers, but he could also be an option as a leadoff hitter which would allow the team to move Austin Jackson down in the lineup.

He hit just .245 in the first half and struck out 100 times, and while he has the speed to hit leadoff, he does not have the plate discipline to be a leadoff hitter at this point in his career.

Los Angeles Angels

Garrett Jones (.240/.328/.421, 9 HR, 34 RBI, 27 R)

The Angels are strapped for cash, and it remains to be seen if they have the funds to take on anyone at the deadline, and if they do it will have to be someone incredibly low-cost.

Jones is making just $455,500 this season, which certainly fits the bill of low-cost.

He has seemingly been on the block for a couple years now, and despite the fact that the Pirates are very much in contention, they could still move Jones with Matt Diaz on the roster and the team looking to add another outfielder as well.

He was nearly dealt to the Angles for Jeff Mathis earlier this season.

Koji Uehara (39 Games, 1-1, 1.88 ERA, 57 Ks, 43 IP)

The Angels have a solid bullpen, and the emergence of Jordan Walden at closer has been a huge for the team, but you can never have too many arms, and Uehara has been great this season.

He is 36 years old, but in just his third big league season since coming over from Japan, and he is under team control until 2015.

He is making just $3 million this season, so he is a relative bargain compared to some other arms on the market and could be in the Angels' price range.

Milwaukee Brewers

Wilson Betemit (.285/.345/.415, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 29 R)

The Brewers looked to be set for the time being at third base after Casey McGehee followed up a strong rookie season in 2009 with a fantastic 2010 in which he hit .285 BA, 23 HR, 104 RBI.

However, he has struggled all season, hitting just .221 with 36 RBI to this point, and the Brewers could look to upgrade for the stretch run.

Betemit was having a nice season for the Royals, but has been pushed aside of late as top prospect Mike Moustakas is now getting the majority of the at bats at third base with the Royals continuing with their youth movement. For a team with limited payroll room, Betemit is a cheap option that could certainly make a difference.

Jamey Carroll (.293/.363/.361, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 36 R)

With Rafael Furcal missing significant time this season, Carroll has managed to log 280 at bats already this season, and he has performed well in what was the busiest first half of his 10-year big league career.

While he has absolutely no power, he gets on base and he plays adequate defense at either middle infield position. His .293 average alone is a vast improvement over the Brewers current shortstop options of Yuniesky Betancourt (.238 BA) and Craig Counsell (.165 BA).

The Dodgers have not yet made him available, but if they do, he will no doubt have a number of suitors.

New York Yankees

Hiroki Kuroda (6-11, 3.13 ERA, 90 Ks, 120.2 IP)

The Yankees have made it much further than many expected with a starting rotation that includes 38-year-old Bartolo Colon (6-5, 3.47 ERA) and 34-year-old Freddy Garcia (7-7, 3.43 ERA) and while those two have been much better than expected, there is still little doubt the team will go after a starter at the deadline.

Kuroda, who is currently leading the NL with 11 losses despite a 114 ERA+, will more than likely be moved as the cash-strapped Dodgers will look to move what is left of his $12 million contract. He has been solid in two of his three postseason starts, and would be a great pickup for the Yankees.

Ty Wigginton (.252/.312/.465, 13 HR, 37 RBI, 37 R)

While pitching has been their biggest concern all season, the recent injury and subsequent surgery of Alex Rodriguez has left them in need of a short term option to play third base who can then serve as a utility infielder and solid bat off the bench once A-Rod comes back.

Wigginton fits the bill, as he can play first, second, third, and corner outfield. He is a proven commodity and someone who could serve as the team's designated hitter while also getting spot starts all over the field once Rodriguez is back.

Of all the potential deals on this list, if I had to put my money on one happening, it would be this one.

Philadelphia Phillies

Mike Adams (42 Games, 3-1, 1.29 ERA, 41 Ks, 42 IP)

Over the past three seasons, there has been no middle reliever in all of baseball better than Adams, as he has posted a 1.36 ERA in 145.2 innings of work. He only has one save over that span as he has setup the likes of Trevor Hoffman and Heath Bell, but he is as good as it gets in the eighth-inning role.

He may fetch a higher return that Bell does, as he is under team control for next season, and is only making $2.54 million this season compared to the $7.5 million that Bell is making.

He would be huge for the Phillies though, as their bullpen has been weak, and they could move one of their promising Single-A starters in Jarred Cosart, Brody Colvin, Trevor May, Jonathan Pettibone, or Julio Rodriguez to pick him up.

Ryan Ludwick (.240/.305/.379, 11 HR, 55 RBI, 38 R)

While generally it takes a three-team trade to make everyone happy in a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline, in the case of these two teams, the Phillies could knock out all their deadline needs with a quick stop in San Diego.

Picking up Adams and Ludwick would almost certainly cost them at least one of their promising young starters, as well as at least one player who is close to big league ready, perhaps Double-A center fielder Derrick Mitchell.

Still, it would be a huge move for the Phillies, and only make them heavier favorites to win the National League pennant.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Carlos Pena (.220/.333/.447, 19 HR, 49 RBI, 45 R)

The Pirates find themselves in the rare position to be buyers this season after they were the surprise story of the first half with a record of 48-43 at the All-Star break. They have a ton of young talent at the core of their team right now, but they could certainly benefit from some veteran leadership both on the field and in the clubhouse.

Pena is a fantastic clubhouse guy, and incumbent first baseman Lyle Overbay has struggled this season with a line of just .241 BA, 7 HR, 35 RBI.

While he is hitting just .220, Pena also has 19 HR and 49 RBI and is drawing walks with an on-base percentage of .333. Throw in his stellar defense, and the fact that his contract is up at season's end, and he could be the perfect fit as a rental player for the playoff push.

Mike Aviles (.213/.257/.391, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 12 R, 10 SB)

The Royals have been hit with injuries at on the left side of their infield, and while they hope to get a healthy and productive Pedro Alvarez back at third base some time in the near future, and shortstop Ronny Cedeno is working his way back from a concussion and should be back soon, the team could use some depth.

Aviles was terrible for the Royals in the first half, hitting just .213 and eventually being demoted. However, he hit .304 last season, and is currently batting .315 BA, 9 HR, 24 RBI at Triple-A. He could be had for next to nothing, and is a good candidate for a bounce-back second half.

San Francisco Giants

Ramon Hernandez (.315/.369/.527, 10 HR, 26 RBI, 21 R)

The Giants have been in the market for a starting catcher since Buster Posey went down with a season-ending injury, and their current replacements Eli Whiteside (.246 BA) and Chris Stewart (.190) have done little to shore up the position.

While it may seems strange for the Reds to move Hernandez while they are in contention themselves, they have actually given Ryan Hanigan more time behind the plate so far this season, and with top prospects Devin Mesoraco (.300 BA, 9 HR, 51 RBI at Triple-A) and Yasmani Grandal (.289 BA, 11 HR, 51 RBI at Double-A) hitting well in the minors, the team certainly has the depth at the position to pull the trigger on moving Hernandez.

Omar Infante (.256/.301/.311, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 29 R)

With an injury to second baseman Freddy Sanchez and an overall lack of ability from shortstop Miguel Tejada, the Giants are in need of some help up the middle.

Rookie Brandon Crawford will get a chance at the everyday shortstop gig, and Sanchez could be back at some point, but the team could still stand to add someone.

Last season's surprise All-Star as a super utility player, Infante has been the Marlins everyday second baseman this season and while his numbers have not been All-Star caliber, he would be a solid pickup for the Giants and give them some depth at positions that have been an issue this season.

St. Louis Cardinals

Jason Bartlett (.244/.310/.301, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 35 R, 20 SB)

The Cardinals have made the most of a tough first half, as they saw Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols miss significant time, on top of having to deal with the loss of ace Adam Wainwright before the season even started.

Yet here we are in July and they are in first place. With Holliday and Pujols back healthy, the biggest lineup problem now is their lack of production at the middle infield spots.

Trading for Bartlett would allow the team to slide Ryan Theriot, who is hitting a respectable .285 but has already made 15 errors, over to second base where he is better suited. That would move Skip Schumaker, who can also play all three outfield positions, into a utility role.

Jason Isringhausen (35 Games, 1-0, 3.14 ERA, 21 Ks, 28.2 IP)

After pitching just nine games in 2009 and sitting out all of the 2010 season, Isringhausen has enjoyed a career renaissance where it all started for him with the Mets this season, and now at the age of 38, he is one of the more sought after relievers at the deadline.

After rejoining the team that drafted him, Isringhausen has stated that if he is going to be traded he would prefer it be to the Cardinals or nowhere.

In seven seasons with the Cards, he tallied 217 saves, and a reunion with the team he performed the best with in his career could be a great move for both sides.

Texas Rangers

Heath Bell (38 Games, 26 Saves, 2.61 ERA, 28 Ks, 38 IP)

With Jose Reyes off the market, and Prince Fielder going nowhere, it looks as though Bell will be the prize of the 2011 trade deadline, and a year after landing the biggest name on the market in Cliff Lee, the Rangers are once again in a position to land the stud name.

The team has Neftali Feliz at closer right now, but they could be looking not only to the 2011 playoff run, but to the future by acquiring Bell.

At some point, Feliz will make the move to the starting rotation, and that time could be 2012 if the Rangers can acquire Bell and get a jump start on signing him long-term.

Jason Frasor (41 Games, 2-1, 3.08 ERA, 32 Ks, 38 IP)

There are a number of good relief arms on the market right this year, and the Rangers have the prospects and the money to add at least a couple big-name relievers to shore up their 'pen.

While the Athletics have a number of arms they may not be willing to deal within their own division, and Matt Capps could be an option as well but the price may be high after the Twins gave up Wilson Ramos to get him last season.

Frasor is in the same class as those guys, and should come at a slightly lower price. He could post even better numbers outside of the AL East, and this could be a fantastic move for the Rangers.