MLB Trade Rumors: Biggest Impact Players on Trading Block at Each Position

There ought to be a name for this time of year. July Madness doesn't quite have the right ring to it, but it does aptly describe the mood and tone of the MLB trade deadline.

Strangely however, for as busy as the rumor mill has been over the past few weeks about possible trades before the deadline, there has been very little actual movement.

But with seven more days until the big day, there are still significant names available and divisions still very much up in the air.

Having trouble keeping up with all the talk? Me too.

So to keep up with all the latest buzz about possible impact players on the move, here are the best players available by position.

Catcher: Chris Iannetta

Interested Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox

Notable 2011 Stats: .222 BA, 10 HR, 36 RBI, .782 OPS

Iannetta provides solid power in a position that offers very little.  Although throughout his career he has never had a full-time gig behind the plate and has lost his starting job twice in Colorado, he would provide a solid bat in a platoon role or as a backup.

On paper, the Pirates would seem to benefit most from a trade with the Rockies due to injuries to both Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit.  Then again, when/if they come off the DL, it would leave them with six catchers on their 40-man roster—probably more than they'll need.

Likelihood of Being Traded: 30 percent

Who's Talking: John Paul Morosi of Fox Sports

First Base: Carlos Pena

Interested Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels

Notable 2011 Stats: .221 BA, 20 HR, 51 RBI, 46 R

Carlos Pena would instantly add a legitimate power threat to any team able to make a trade for him before July 31. The problem is most teams in contention are set at first base, so in all likelihood, Pena will be staying put in Chicago.

Still, for as hotly rumored as Pena's services were in early July, there is an outside chance Pena could still be moved if a team breaks through with a can't-miss deal at the last minute.  

At this point, the team most likely interested is the Pittsburgh Pirates, but even they only have an outside chance of landing him.

Likelihood of Being Traded: 20 percent

Who's Talking: CSN Chicago's Patrick Mooney

Second Base: Michael Cuddyer

Interested Teams: San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox

Notable 2011 Stats: .297 BA, 14 HR, 48 RBI, .840 OPS

Michael Cuddyer seems like a nice option for a lot of different teams because he can be utilized in many different ways. He can play the corner outfield positions, first, third and even second base.

While it looks like the Giants have been Cuddyer's most aggressive suitor, talks have cooled since Cuddyer has made it clear he wishes to stay in Minnesota, and if not, he would only consider a trade to a team in playoff contention.  

At this point, with Cuddyer's wish to stay in Minnesota and the fact that the Twins aren't completely out of contention, Cuddyer will probably finish the year with the Twins.

Likelihood of Being Traded: 30 percent

Who's Talking: Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News and Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Shortstop: Ian Desmond

Interested Teams: Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants

Notable 2011 Stats: .226 BA, 36 R, 20 SB

Ian Desmond has had a disappointing 2011 campaign, but that doesn't mean he couldn't offer some second-half fireworks for any team willing to make a trade for him.

The most active team in pursuit of the 25-year-old Desmond is the Boston Red Sox whose starting shortstop Jed Lowrie has been sidelined by an injury.  And with the Washington Nationals shopping Desmond, it may signify that they believe their future at shortstop is with Stephen Lombardozzi.

Likelihood of Being Traded: 50 percent

Who's Talking: Stephen Bailey at WEEI and Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports

Third Base: Chone Figgins

Interested Teams: Cincinnati Reds

Notable 2011 Stats: .182 BA, 10 SB

After one-and-a-half seasons of struggling at the plate, the Seattle Mariners are hoping there is some interest left around the league in Chone Figgins.  There is no doubt Figgins still has plenty of speed for a leadoff hitter, but whether or not he can figure it out at the plate is the larger concern for any potential suitors.

In Seattle, the writing seems to be on the wall for Figgins who is still owed $17 million by the Mariners, and my feeling is if the Mariners can attract some attention for Figgins, he's as good as gone.

Likelihood of Being Traded: 40 percent

Who's Talking: Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times and Danny Knobler of CBS Sports

Outfield: Hunter Pence

Interested Teams: Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds

Notable 2011 Stats: .308 BA, 11 HR, 62 RBI, 7 SB

Ostensibly, Hunter Pence would make a perfect fit in the right field void Jayson Werth left in the Philly outfield during the offseason.

The trouble with the possibility of this trade falling through is the Houston Astros appear to be asking for multiple impact pieces to move Pence.  

And while the Astros' heavy demands have scared off some teams, the Phillies appear to be game, considering a package which involves highly touted prospect Domonic Brown.

If the trade doesn't fall through, it will probably be at the behest of the Astros who will be mired in rebuilding over the next several seasons.

Likelihood of Being Traded: 60 percent

Who's Talking: Just about everybody—Google "Hunter Pence Trade."

Outfield: Carlos Beltran

Interested Teams: San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves

Notable 2011 Stats: .291 BA, 15 HR, 64 RBI, .910 OPS

You can't get away from news about Carlos Beltran.

His resurgence in New York has been so explosive, almost any team with an available outfield spot and within a few games of a playoff berth have been connected with Beltran.

The front-runner for now appears to be the San Francisco Giants as Beltran himself has said he would possibly exercise his no-trade clause for a trade to an American League team, but this hasn't stopped the Texas Rangers from inquiring about Beltran's availability, especially with the recent injury to Adrian Beltre.

There is still an outside possibility for a trade with the Boston Red Sox despite recent talk that they don't have the monetary flexibility to make a deal like this work.

Likelihood of Being Traded: 90 percent

Who's Talking: Literally, everybody.  ESPN's Adam Rubin, among others.

Outfield: B.J. Upton

Interested Teams: San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Philadephia Phillies, Texas Rangers

Notable 2011 Stats: .229 BA, 15 HR, 52 RBI, 23 SB

B.J. Upton is a supremely talented athlete. Whether or not that translates to his being a great ball player is another question altogether.  Nonetheless, Upton's trade value has increased as an alternative choice for teams scouting Carlos Beltran.

Teams unsure of whether or not they can land Beltran have asked the Tampa Bay Rays about Upton's availability.  Trading Upton offers very little downside for Tampa Bay as they recently called up top prospect Desmond Jennings to the club.  

He would fit nicely in the No. 1 slot in the lineup and would slide nicely into Upton's vacant spot if Upton were to be traded.

Likeihood of Being Traded: 90 percent

Who's Talking: Marc Topkin of St. Petersburg Times

Right-Handed Starting Pitcher: Ubaldo Jimenez

Interested Teams: New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers

Notable 2011 Stats: 4.20 ERA, 6-9 W/L, 1.34 WHIP, 116 K

Everybody talking about the Ubaldo Jimenez trade is saying that its unlikely.  But that doesn't stop them from talking.

The supremely talented 27-year-old is having an off year, to be sure, but he is a legitimate ace with many years of dominance ahead.  While multiple teams have been talking to the Colorado Rockies, Yahoo! Sports' Tim Brown and Jeff Passan report that no teams have made any official offers.

A trade for Ubaldo is possible but not imminent, as the Rockies have been asking for significant prospects in return for Ubaldo's services.

With Ubaldo's being traded remaining unlikely, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, Hiroki Kuroda, is the most likely right-hander on the move come July 31. Still, there are some considerably aggressive teams scouting Jimenez, so anything remains possible.

Likelihood of Being Traded: 30 percent

Who's Talking: ESPN's Jayson Stark and Woody Paige of the Denver Post

Left-Handed Starting Pitcher: Wandy Rodriguez

Interested Teams: Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds

Notable 2011 Stats: 3.60 ERA, 6-7 W/L, 1.32 WHIP, 100 K

Wandy Rodriguez's great asset may lie in the fact that he is left handed. Still his strong K:BB ratio appeals to teams that are looking to add a solid left-handed arm to their rotation. 

Strangely enough, there are a number of AL teams who have remained wary of Rodriguez as a trade target, offering that they unsure about his success through an AL-NL transition.

The Houston Astros have made it clear that they are willing to deal Rodriguez, but if what Peter Gammons reports is true—namely, that the Astros asking price is on par with what the Rockies are asking for Ubaldo Jimenez—Wandy may end up spending his summer deep in the heart of Texas.

Likelihood of Being Traded: 70 percent

Who's Talking: Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports

Relief Pitcher: Heath Bell

Interested Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies

Notable 2011 Stats: 2.45 ERA, 28 SV, 1.17 WHIP

The San Diego Padres may lack the offensive oomph to win the NL West division this year, but when it comes to pitching, they've got room to spare.  Heath Bell is one of the premiere closers in Major League Baseball and could to provide some strength in the back end of a contender's bullpen.

The St. Louis Cardinals seem to have the most obvious need for Heath Bell with their somewhat effective "closer by committee" strategy this year.  However, the San Diego Padres have been somewhat tentative in shopping Bell around the league. 

While they seem more willing to part with Bell than with setup man extraordinaire, Mike Adams, it appears as though San Diego may be willing to wait for the action to come to them.

Likelihood of Being Traded: 70 percent

Who's Talking: Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times