MLB Trade Rumors: L.A. Dodgers and 5 Most Likely Epic Fire Sales

The old aphorism, "One man's trash is another man's treasure" may not be the most accurate way to describe the MLB trade deadline, but there figures to be plenty of shedding of salaries between clubs well out of the race and those gunning for the World Series nonetheless.

Nine teams currently sit 13 games or more out of first place in their respective divisions, though not all of them will be opting for all-out fire sales ahead of the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

That distinction belongs to a select few teams who are currently struggling simultaneously with on-field mediocrity and off-field financial concerns.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made headlines all season for being just such a club, with embattled owner Frank McCourt continuing his fruitless crusade to fend off commissioner Bud Selig and hang onto a franchise that he has disgraced with hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.

However, the Hollywood Swingers are far from the only team that appears poised to dispose of a slew of expensive assets by the end of the month.

Read on to see whose dugouts might also be emptied out by month's end. 

New York Mets

Meet the Mets! Greet the Mets! Step right up and greet the Mets...before they head off to World Series contenders.

New York's other team has struggled all season with financial woes stemming from owner Fred Wilpon getting fleeced by disgraced Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff. The team's off-field woes haven't totally derailed the on-field product, as the Mets currently stand at 49-49.

That being said, between money concerns and a number of big-time players approaching free agency, it's clear that the Metropolitans are on the verge of a wholesale rebuilding project.

That effort began just after the 2011 MLB All-Star Game when New York shipped closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Milwaukee Brewers for essentially cash and a bag of peanuts while ridding themselves of a potentially huge financial burden for 2012.

Star outfielder Carlos Beltran, who has persevered through a seemingly never-ending series of ups and downs over the course of his seven-year, $119 million deal with the Mets, will likely be the next shoe to drop.

Beltran has been linked to pretty much every team with a shot at the playoffs and a need for an outfield bat, though the Phillies, Braves and Giants appear to be the odds-on favorites to land the six-time All-Star as a half-season rental.

Shortstop and NL MVP contender Jose Reyes, who currently leads all of baseball in hitting with a .349 average and is tied for second with 30 steals, is allegedly off the table, though he could still move if GM Sandy Alderson is bowled over by the right offer and determines his team may not be in position to re-sign Reyes in the winter.

The Mets may also "rid" themselves of more marginal pieces, including knuckeballer R.A. Dickey and reliever Jason Isringhausen and might even consider entertaining offers for starter Mike Pelfrey if they determine he would cost them too much in arbitration.  

Los Angeles Dodgers

Like the Mets, the Dodgers have seen their 2011 season seriously compromised by ownership issues, the big difference being that Frank McCourt has arguably done much more to bring financial woes upon his own head and in turn, that of his prized franchise.

Another big difference, the Dodgers don't really have any big-name, high-interest players that they figure to move at this point, though there are quite a few who could go nonetheless.

First and foremost on the block is LA's infield depth.

Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles are both having solid seasons for the Blue Crew and stand out as affordable options for teams seeking a veteran utility man off the bench.

For those teams that don't mind taking on a bit more money, there's always shortstop Rafael Furcal, who's struggled with injuries in recent seasons and do-everything infielder Juan Uribe, who's won two World Series championships with two different teams but has another two years and $14 million left on the deal he signed with the Dodgers this past winter.

GM Ned Colletti could also move light-hitting first baseman James Loney or free-swinging catcher Rod Barajas, though the remaining vultures will likely circle over the Dodgers' pitching staff, including veteran starters Hiroki Kuroda and Ted Lilly as well as relievers Mike MacDougal and Matt Guerrier.

San Diego Padres

Elsewhere in the cellar of the National League West, the San Diego Padres already have the third lowest payroll in all of baseball at $45.455 million but are nonetheless looking to shed some salary.

One could easily consider their entire roster to be up for sale, though contending teams are most likely to target their vaunted bullpen.

All-Star closer Heath Bell is the biggest prize the Padres have to offer, with fellow relievers Mike Adams, Chad Qualls and Luke Gregerson also available. Rubber-armed starter Aaron Harang might also be had for the right price.

In the field, the Dads can offer slugging outfield Ryan Ludwick and second baseman Orlando Hudson, assuming he's healthy after crashing headfirst into a wall against the Florida Marlins on Thursday, though San Diego has little else of value to offer as far as hitters are concerned.

Look for teams like the Boston Red Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies and perhaps even the Pittsburgh Pirates to talk shop with Padres GM Jed Hoyer about swapping for Ludwick and a bullpen arm.

Houston Astros

No team has suffered on the field more this season than the Houston Astros, who currently own the worst record in the major leagues at 33-65.

The 'Stros sport a number of pieces that have drawn interest from potential postseason participants. Chief among them is All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence, who currently leads the team in batting average (.316), home runs (11), RBI (61) and OPS (.845).

Houston may want to hang on to Pence to be the cornerstone of the impending rebuilding effort, though the team may be reluctant to fork up the boatload of cash he is likely to earn in salary arbitration this winter, not to mention that Pence, though a Texas native, might not want to spend the prime of his career on a squad mired in mediocrity.

The "Lastros" might also be willing to part with fellow outfielder Michael Bourn, who leads all of baseball with 35 stolen bases and certainly wouldn't mind unloading Carlos Lee, who has one year remaining on the six-year, $100 million deal he signed with Houston in November of 2006.

As far as pitching is concerned, the Astros would likely oblige any team asking about starters Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers, assuming the price is right of course.

Chicago Cubs

If you haven't figured it out already, there are quite a few teams in the National League looking to unload loot leading up to the deadline, not the least of whom is the Chicago Cubs.

There could be a veritable conga line of big names dancing out of the Friendly Confines in the next week-and-a-half, especially since the Cubbies, currently at 39-60 and fifth in the NL Central, sport the sixth highest payroll in all of baseball.

No steep-salaried star is safe this summer and that starts with outfielder Alfonso Soriano, whose overall skills are clearly eroding (.249 batting average, six errors) but who still boasts a power bat (14 home runs, 41 RBI).

Fellow outfielders Kosuke Fukudome and Marlon Byrd are also certainly up for sale.

The Cubs could also stand to send away the cornerstones of their infield—third baseman Aramis Ramirez (.302, 17 home runs, 58 RBI) and first baseman Carlos Pena (20 homers, 51 RBI)—both of whom pack quite a punch at the plate and would fit in quite well with a number of offensively starved contenders.

GM Jim Hendry might be less inclined to let go of his best pitchers, especially Matt Garza, whom he sold off the farm to acquire from Tampa Bay last winter, though he probably wouldn't mind letting Carlos Zambrano go should any team prove desperate enough for a starting arm to take on his eight-figure salary and disagreeable temperament.