MLB Trade Speculation: Ranking All 30 Teams Based on Desperation For a Move

The 2011 MLB Trade Deadline is quickly approaching. Some teams are much more desperate than others to make moves.

This is not the last chance that teams will have to improve their rosters, but it is their best opportunity. There are teams that will overpay for players because of their desperation. Sellers will look to take advantage of this. 

30. New York Mets

The New York Mets have already made their two big deals of the year. They have traded away both closer Francisco Rodriguez and outfielder Carlos Beltran.

It does not appear likely that the Mets will be looking to make any more trades this year. The Mets have said they want to keep Jose Reyes and Jason Isringhausen, both of whom had been on other teams' radars.

29. Seattle Mariners

Felix Hernandez's name has been thrown around a bit as a potential trade candidate, but the Seattle Mariners insist that he his not going anywhere.

With a young roster, the Mariners will likely look to hold on to their players as they look to improve next year. They have some minor leaguers they may call up to help them later this year.

28. Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays have made their big splash for the year. They acquired Colby Rasmus along with three other players.

Toronto will likely stand pat at the deadline although one should never underestimate Alex Anthopoulos. He is the type of general manager who could pull a deal out of nowhere.

27. Oakland Athletics

Billy Beane has not been impressed by the offers that the Oakland Athletics have received for their players who will be free agents after the year. Oakland believes that two months of these players as well as draft picks are better than the offers they have received.

The team has a number of potential free agents including David DeJesus, Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp, Conor Jackson and Rich Harden. Beane will not trade any of them unless he is overwhelmed by an offer. 

26. Chicago White Sox

In return for Edwin Jackson, the Chicago White Sox received reliever Jason Frasor and and pitching prospect Zach Stewart. This big splash may be the team's only move this year.

The White Sox are still in contention for the AL Central title so there is a chance that they may look to continue to improve their team. The White Sox have internal options such as Dayan Viciedo who could help the team.

25. Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals have one of the best farm systems in baseball and have already seen many of their young players reach the major leagues. None of these players will be moved.

Kansas City does have a few players who may interest some other teams. If the Royals could bring in more prospects for Melky Cabrera or Jeff Francoeur, they will certainly move them.

24. Baltimore Orioles

Given that the Baltimore Orioles have signed J.J. Hardy to an extension and have told him that they will not trade them, the team's best trade chip is not on the market.

There are other players the Orioles could eventually trade, such as Derek Lee, Koji Uehara and Jeremy Guthrie, but they do not seem to be in a hurry to move any one of those guys.

23. Chicago Cubs

One of the players the Chicago Cubs are trying to move is Carlos Zambrano. They have tried to trade him in the past, but Zambrano's contract has been a deterrent to most teams.

The Cubs are going to be listening to offers on all of their players. Reed Johnson has drawn a lot of attention from teams and might be moved before the trade deadline.

22. San Diego Padres

It was thought that Heath Bell would be the best reliever available on the trade market. However, there is now talk that Bell might not be traded.

The San Diego Padres believe that if they retain Bell, they will be able to sign him for a hometown discount. Many teams also don't feel that they match up with the Padres' demands for Mike Adams.

21. Colorado Rockies

Several teams have contacted the Colorado Rockies about Ubaldo Jimenez. It seems that the Rockies just put his name out there to see what type of offers they would receive.

Unless some team makes an offer that absolutely blows the Rockies away, they will not move Jimenez. It seems that they are just trying to gauge Jimenez's value at this point.

20. Pittsburgh Pirates

This season, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in a unique position as they have a winning record as they approach the trade deadline. However, the team is being cautious, and rightfully so.

The Pirates do not want to give up any of their top prospects to acquire players who can only help them this year. Pittsburgh is also looking towards the future and will not sacrifice any good players to make a run this year.

19. Florida Marlins

Reports are coming in that the Florida Marlins are unlikely to trade Leo Nunez despite the fact that there is interest in him.

The Marlins were also asked if Ricky Nolasco was available by the New York Yankees. They noted that they were not ready to deal him. If anything, the may look to bring in players who could help them in the future.

18. San Francisco Giants

Acquiring Carlos Beltran was the biggest move that the San Francisco Giants will likely make this year. However, they may look to bring in other players to help their anemic offense.

The Giants are also looking to find upgrades at the shortstop and catcher positions. These players have been hard to find but the Giants will continue to look.

17. Los Angeles Dodgers

Hiroki Kuroda has drawn a lot of interest from teams around MLB. The Los Angeles Dodgers will likely move him to relieve themselves of some of his salary.

Money will be a major factor in any deal that the Dodgers make this year at the trade deadline. The McCourt's divorce has impacted the team's finances and they are not in a position to bring in any expensive players.

16. Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers have already made two big trades to help their team during this season. The first came before the year when they acquired Zack Greinke.

Picking up Francisco Rodriguez from the New York Mets was another big deal. These acquisitions have left the Brewers with few assets to trade, but that does not mean they are not looking for good deals.

15. Washington Nationals

There seems to be one player the Nationals have a lot of interest in: B.J. Upton. They will likely make a strong run for Upton at the deadline.

If the Nationals do not get Upton, do not expect them to make a major move. They are only interested in improving their team for the future when they will have both Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg.

14. Houston Astros

There is no doubt that the Houston Astros will be sellers at the trade deadline this season. They currently sport the worst record in baseball.

Wandy Rodriguez, Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn have all interested other teams. The problem is that the Astros want a large return for these players. Many teams may not be willing to meet their asking price.

13. St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis has already made a major move by dealing Colby Rasmus to bring in Edwin Jackson, Marc Rzepczynski, Octavio Dotel and Corey Patterson.

The Cardinals are realizing that this may be the last year that they have Albert Pujols and they will look to continue to improve their roster. This could be the last chance that the Cardinals have at a World Series with Albert Pujols on their team.

12. Arizona Diamondbacks

Players from multiple teams have been linked to the Arizona Diamondbacks. This makes sense considering that the team is within striking distance of the NL West title and the Wild Card.

The Diamondbacks will likely look to improve their starting rotation and bullpen. There is also a possibility that they look to bring in a shortstop since Stephen Drew is injured.

11. Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay finds itself falling out of the race for both the American League East as well as the Wild Card. They will soon need to make the decision too, if they will be sellers.

The Rays have received offers on many of their players. Both B.J. Upton and James Shields have drawn attention from other teams. It seems likely that Upton will be traded by this year's deadline.

10. Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are expected to make at least one trade at this year's deadline. Teams have been inquiring about Kevin Slowey and Denard Span.

Minnesota is in an interesting position as they have made a bit of a climb back into the AL Central race. If they lose a few games in the coming days, they will be sellers.

9. Detroit Tigers

One of the teams that the Minnesota Twins are chasing in the AL Central is the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers have been asking around the league about a lot of different players.

Detroit will look to improve their rotation at the deadline. They have spoken with the Dodgers about Hiroki Kuroda. Ubaldo Jimenez and Erik Bedard are also names that have been connected to the Tigers.

8. Cleveland Indians

The third team in the midst of the race for the AL Central title is the Cleveland Indians. Like the other two organizations, the Indians are expected to make a move.

Cleveland was connected to Carlos Beltran and Colby Rasmus but could not pull off a deal for either player. The Indians are going to remain aggressive until the deadline and should bring in an outfielder. 

7. Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers are another team that is expected to make at least one move before the 2011 MLB Trade Deadline. They are looking to improve their bullpen and possibly their outfield.

Texas has been connected to relievers such as Heath Bell and Mike Adams. Other relievers the Rangers have been linked to include Andrew Bailey and Grant Balfour.

6. Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels have already had their owner Arte Moreno approve a payroll increase. It has been stated that the Angles have been looking for an improvement at third base.

They have had internal discussions about both Aramis Ramirez and Michael Cuddyer. They might have a difficult time acquiring either of these players.

5. Cincinnati Reds

It seems as if the Cincinnati Reds have been connected to almost every player who has been on the trade market this summer. Part of the reason for this is they have a few blocked prospects they can trade.

Most recently, the Reds have been connected to Ubaldo Jimenez. They have also been linked to James Shields. The Reds have already made a move by trading Jonny Gomes and they look to continue to improve before the deadline.

4. New York Yankees

It seems that whenever a talented player becomes available as either a free agent or when they are listed on the trading block, the New York Yankees are always mentioned as a possible destination.

Players who have been linked to the New York Yankees before this year's trade deadline include Hiroki Kuroda, Ubaldo Jimenez and Ricky Nolasco. The Yankees want to improve both their starting rotation and bullpen.  

3. Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves were one of the many teams who were chasing after Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran. Now that he has been traded to the Giants, they will need to look in other directions to improve their outfield.

With Brian McCann on the DL, the Braves have said that they will not be any more desperate to make a move, but it is easy to argue against that. Hunter Pence is a player who has been on the Braves radar recently.

2. Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves are in a tight race for the NL East crown. They have been linked to many of the same players during the lead-up to the MLB trade deadline.

If one of the teams makes a move, it will be almost certain that the other team will do something to counter it. The Phillies have been connected to outfielders Hunter Pence and Carlos Quentin as of late.

1. Boston Red Sox

Just as with the Yankees, the Boston Red Sox seem to always be connected to the top available players. They were yet another team that was chasing after Carlos Beltran.

Nick Cardafo of the Boston Globe has reported that the Red Sox are also looking to fill their fifth starter spot. They have been linked to almost every starting pitcher on the trade market.