Pittsburgh Pirates Trade Rumors: Carlos Beltran and 5 Players They Shouldn't Get

Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Neil Huntington is feeling pressure from the city of Pittsburgh to make a big-time deal to push the Pirates into postseason play for the first time in 18 years. Carlos Beltran is a name that fans want, but acquiring him will do major damage to the future of the franchise because they will be forced to give up a top prospect or two.

Huntington should not only say no to Beltran, but no to Hunter Pence as well.

The future is the most important thing to the organization, and a two-month rental player shouldn't be worth mortgaging the future.

Some of the players that the Pirates are looking at either don't fit with the club or will cost too much to bring in.

Here are five players the Pirates shouldn't acquire.

No 5: David DeJesus

Alex Presley and Jose Tabata are both injured for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but should return in August. Combine those players with Andrew McCutchen and the Pirates have a quality outfield.

The only way the Pirates should trade for David DeJesus is if they give up nothing of value in return. If not, they shouldn't even consider trading for a bat that has been horrible in 2011. 

After hitting .318 with five home runs and 37 RBI in 91 games in 2010, DeJesus has only hit .231 with five home runs and 26 RBI.

If he doesn't hit home runs or knock in runs would he be better than Tabata or Presley? Both do exactly what DeJesus is known for—hit for average with little power.

The Pirates already have two DeJesus-type of players on their roster, there is no need for another one.

No 4: Josh Willingham

Josh Willingham has hit .243 with 13 HR and 50 RBI with the Oakland Athletics. His low average wouldn’t seem so bad in the Pirates' lineup. Pittsburgh is 23rd in batting average (.245).

With the nagging injury to Jose Tabata and now Alex Presley’s thumb issue, acquiring Willingham doesn't seem as nonsensical as it did a week ago.

The only way I would bring in Willingham is if it wouldn't take too much to get him. Unlike David DeJesus, Willingham can hit the long ball and drive in runs.

He would be a better short-term fit than DeJesus would be.

If Tabata and Presley can return sooner rather than later, Willingham wouldn't get starts in the outfield so there is no need to trade for the outfielder unless the Pirates give up nothing of value.

No 3: Chris Iannetta

Chris Iannetta is hitting .223 with 10 HR and 36 RBI in 78 games for the Colorado Rockies. The Pittsburgh Pirates have had some interest in the veteran catcher.

The Pirates have used seven catchers in 2011, and Michael McKenry is the current starter. He is hitting .253 with one home run and seven RBI in 31 games played.

The majority of Iannetta's production (seven home runs and 29 RBI) has come in one of the best hitter’s ballparks in MLB: Coors Field.

McKenry is as solid of a defensive catcher you will see in Major League Baseball. The Pirates shouldn’t even consider Iannetta an upgrade at this point because he wouldn't be.

No 2: Hunter Pence

If the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Hunter Pence from the Houston Astros they would be forced to give up three or four prospects plus possibly a Jose Tabata or Alex Presley. They shouldn't even consider blowing up the future for one guy.

They won't either.

His $6.9 million salary is something the Pirates management would be unwilling to sign after season's end.

Pence is a great player with many tools. He may not look like the most talented player in Major League Baseball, but he gets the job done.

He has hit 25 HR three straight seasons prior to the 2011 season.

If the Pirates didn't have to give up pieces of their future for Pence I would be all-in. The Astros are going to want a ton for their lone All-Star because they are unsure if they want to trade him. That is why the Pirates should look in another direction.

The Pirates outfield should consist of three players that are currently on the roster: Alex Presley, Jose Tabata and Andrew McCutchen.

No 1: Carlos Beltran

If the New York Mets wanted a team to pick up Carlos Beltran's salary then I would be all for the Pittsburgh Pirates acquiring Beltran. The problem is that the Mets are willing to eat salary in order to gain better prospects.

No way should the Pirates consider giving up the farm for a two-month rental player in Beltran. Even if he is hitting .289 with 15 HR and 65 RBI, the Pirates shouldn't give up a possible future star like Starling Marte, or any of their young pitchers like No. 2 pick in 2010 Jameson Taillon or 2010 second-round selection Stetson Allie.

The plan for the Pirates front office is building for the future. It is evident that this organization was caught by surprise by the success of the Pirates in 2011. I am sure they were hoping to deal Paul Maholm and his nine million dollars he would be due next season, but that isn't the case for the first-place Pirates.

Stay with your plan. The Pirates can go get first basemen Carlos Pena without giving too much of value if they are willing to eat salary. There are moves to be made without ruining the future.

No one player is worth a two-month rental for the Pittsburgh Pirates, especially not the injury-prone Beltran.