MLB Trade Rumors: 4 2011 All-Stars Who Could Be Traded by the Deadline

All-Stars make for blockbuster deals at the deadline, and these All-Stars will be traded this year. The 2011 MLB All-Star Game is over, and the baseball world is now focusing in on the MLB trade deadline.

All-Stars are traded every year, and where they go alters the outlook of the division.

When Cliff Lee was traded to the Texas Rangers last season, he helped the team enough to secure the division and make it to the World Series. The trade of Lee to Texas did not just change the division, it changed to outcome of the entire MLB in the postseason.

The trading of All-Stars is very important at this time of year, and Lee is proof of that.

These four All-Stars are the ones to watch going into the trade deadline, and they could all be traded before July 31.

Jose Reyes

Jose Reyes is a shortstop for the New York Mets. Reyes was elected to his fourth All-Star Game this year, which was his second in a row.

Reyes is performing extremely well for the Mets this season, batting .354 with three home runs and 32 RBI in 80 games. The switch-hitter is doing very well from both sides of the plate, batting .371 from the left and .309 from the right. He is also fielding very well, covering a lot of ground with his speed.

As the lead-off man for the Mets, Reyes is not batting with runners on base a lot, but he does have 65 runs scored to go with his 32 RBI.

Reyes is currently on the 15-day DL with a left hamstring injury, but he should join the team for tonight's game against the Florida Marlins.

The Mets are only one game under .500 at 47-48, but they appear to be sellers because they are fourth in the NL East, and they can no longer afford all of their players.

Reyes is probably their best player, and he is also in the final year of his contract. Reyes will be a free agent in 2012, so the Mets will probably trade him now in order to gain a few good prospects.

Reyes knows how to get an offense rolling, and that is exactly what he will bring to his new team.

Heath Bell

Heath Bell is a closer for the San Diego Padres. Bell was elected to his third All-Star Game this year, all of which came in the last three seasons.

Bell is tied for the fifth most saves in the MLB with 26. He has blown only two saves in his 28 opportunities, making him one of the most reliable closers in the game today.

Bell has stated publicly that he would like to remain in San Diego, but the team simply cannot afford him. He is currently signed to a one-year $7.5-million contract, and he is due for about $10 million next season.

Bell's $7.5 million is more than one-sixth of the entire team's payroll this year. He needs to be traded so that the Padres can open up some room for other talented players.

A lot of teams need good relievers or a solid closer, and there is obviously a market for Bell, who is on the trading block. With teams like the Yankees, Rangers, Phillies and Cardinals all looking at him, he is bound to be traded this season.

Wherever Bell goes, the postseason is bound to be shaken up because of it.

Hunter Pence

Hunter Pence is an outfielder for the Houston Astros. Pence was elected to his second All-Star Game this season, with his first coming in 2009.

Pence is not going to become a free agent until 2014 at the earliest, but he has still been involved in trade rumors this year. The Pirates and Phillies are among several teams to be interested in Pence, but the offer for Pence has to be a great one for Houston.

Pence is doing very well this season, batting .318 with 11 home runs and 61 RBI this year.

He has done his best to carry the basement-dwelling Astros, who are 31-65 this season, putting them 20 games back of the division leading Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pence has produced 106 of the team's 371 runs by either scoring or driving in runs, a truly depressing stat for Astros fans.

Pence is 28-years-old. By the time the Astros are ready to compete again he will be older than 30. He is a complementary hitter, not a player who can single-handedly lead a team to victory.

It makes sense to trade Pence now and get a few good prospects, but the Astros still need to be impressed.

Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran is an outfielder for the New York Mets. He was elected to his sixth All-Star Game this year.

Beltran's seven-year contract ends this season, and he is going to be experiencing free agency for the first time since 2004. With that being said, the Mets are looking to trade Beltran while they can still profit from him.

Beltran is doing very well this season, batting .287 with 14 home runs and 59 RBI. He is arguably the best outfielder on the trading block, and he is not going to cost a team as much as Hunter Pence would.

Because the Mets are willing to take on part of his salary, the Phillies, Giants, Tigers and Braves are all looking to land Beltran according to Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman.

Beltran is the best bat available, and he is going to affect the postseason no matter where he goes.