MLB Trade Rumors: 6 Targets for Philadelphia Phillies Who'd Make Big Differences

The Philadelphia Phillies have a few trade targets who would make a huge impact this season. The 2011 MLB trade deadline is less than two weeks away, so these deals would have to be done soon.

With the Minnesota Twins saying that they will not trade Michael Cuddyer to a team looking for offensive help (like the Phillies), Philadelphia is now forced to look elsewhere.

The Phillies still have these six other players on their radar, and each of these players would greatly help the team.

6. Ryan Ludwick

Ryan Ludwick is an outfielder for the San Diego Padres.

Ludwick is a right-handed batter who could help solidify the Phillies' less-than-stellar batting lineup. He is batting .238 with 11 home runs and 56 RBI this season.

His batting average does not stand out, but he has 56 RBI for an offense that has had the second-fewest runs scored this season. His 56 RBI are more than one-sixth of the total RBI for the Padres (321).

Ludwick knows how to generate offense, and that is exactly what the Phillies need from their outfield.

A National League scout had this to say about trades for Ludwick: "I think he's a piece that can help a team, but I don't look at him as a frontline guy. I wouldn't give up a lot for him."

If the Phillies only have to give up a mid-level prospect for Ludwick, they will certainly do so. Ludwick coming to the Phillies has a lot of upside, and he could very well help them make a run deep into the postseason.

5. Josh Willingham

Josh Willingham is an outfielder for the Oakland Athletics.

Willingham is solid at the plate, batting .244 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI this season. Willingham gets a lot of timely hits, batting .264 with runners on base, .325 with runners in scoring position and .429 with bases loaded.

The Phillies have had a lot of baserunners who have not scored this season, and they need players like Willingham to drive in runs for them.

The Phillies would not have to give up a lot for Willingham, perhaps just Freddy Galvis from Double-A Reading.

Willingham would be a productive right-handed bat, and he could have a big impact on the Phillies' season.

4. Mike Adams

Mike Adams is a reliever for the San Diego Padres, and he is one of the best in the MLB.

Adams is 3-1 with an ERA of 1.26 and a WHIP of 0.74 this season. He has recorded 42 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched, and his 19 holds are tied for the third-most in the MLB this season.

Adams has been very good this year, and the Phillies apparently prefer him over All-Star teammate Heath Bell, another reliever.

Adams is one of the top relievers on the market, and he would therefore be very costly. His cost would be at least one of the top prospects for the Phillies, and with so many teams bidding on him, the Padres will probably want two or three prospects.

The Phillies already have a very good bullpen backing their starting five, consisting of Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Antonio Bastardo, Michael Stutes and other talented relievers. When Lidge, Madson and Jose Contreras come off the DL, the bullpen will be solid, and they will not need Adams much.

Adams will have a pretty big impact because of his prowess on the mound, but he would not have the biggest impact possible.

3. Melky Cabrera

Melky Cabrera is an outfielder for the Kansas City Royals.

Cabrera typically plays center field, but the Phillies have All-Star Shane Victorino there. Either Victorino or Cabrera could play a corner-outfielder spot, and Victorino has done this before in his career.

Cabrera is hitting extremely well this season, batting .295 with 11 home runs and 52 RBI. Cabrera is a switch-hitter, and he bats over .290 from either side of the plate.

Cabrera could bat at the top of the Phillies order or near the bottom. He is a very flexible player looking to win, and he could mesh with the team nicely.

The Royals would be looking for a good prospect for Cabrera, or two mid-level-to-good prospects. He has done very well, so their asking price is pretty high, and he is one of the top outfielders on the trading block.

2. Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran is an outfielder for the New York Mets.

Beltran is a great hitter, plain and simple. He is batting .287 with 14 home runs and 59 RBI this season. He also has an on-base percentage of .381, and that stems from his ability to hit well from both sides of the plate. He has hit eight home runs from the right, and is batting .312 from the left.

Beltran is another timely hitter, batting .306 with runners on, .333 with runners in scoring position, .306 with runners in scoring position and two outs, and .750 with bases loaded.

Trading Beltran to an NL East rival is apparently not out of the question, and the Phillies would have a lot to offer for the slugger, especially if the Braves made a legitimate play at Beltran.

Beltran can drive in a lot of runs, and he would make a huge impact with the team. Obviously they would have to give the Mets a lot in return, but the Phillies have a legitimate shot at landing Beltran.

1. Hunter Pence

Hunter Pence is an outfielder for the Houston Astros.

Multiple sources have reported that Pence will be on the move, and one of the front-runners for the 2011 All-Star is the Philadelphia Phillies.

Pence is doing extremely well this season, batting .321 with 11 home runs and 61 RBI. He also an has on-base percentage of .383, and a slugging percentage of .489.

Pence has generated a lot of offense, and he has been a part of over one-fourth of the 369 runs the Astros have scored this season. If Pence is surrounded by a decent lineup, he will produce incredible numbers.

The Phillies would have to spend a pretty penny to get Pence, and they would probably be forced to trade Jerred Cosart among others for him.

Pence would not only have an immediate impact for the Phils, he would be able to return to the team and help them keep winning for a few years.