MLB Trade Rumors: Hunter Pence, Ubaldo Jimenez and 10 Names Still on the Block

The MLB trade deadline is just over 48 hours away and even though there has been plenty of movement so far with guys like Carlos Beltran, Kosuke Fukudome, Colby Rasmus and Edwin Jackson being dealt already, but there will be a lot more action taking place before the 4 p.m. EST deadline on Sunday.

The two biggest names available are Hunter Pence of the Houston Astros and Ubaldo Jimenez of the Colorado Rockies.

Of those two players, Pence is much more likely to be dealt because the Astros are the worst team in baseball and have to begin their rebuilding project as soon as possible. The Phillies are the team linked to him the most, and have begun to make serious offers for him that include top prospects Jarred Cosart and Jonathan Singleton.

Jimenez is the most attractive pitcher on the market because of his team-friendly contract that runs through 2014 and an electric arm that produces high-90s heat and a knockout curveball. The Yankees have the best chance to land him, but there's serious doubt that they will match the Rockies' astronomical asking price for him.

Those are the two best names available but they are hardly the only names that fans will hear about over the next two days.

Here is a look at the best players still available on the trading block as we count down to the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline.

Hunter Pence, RF, Houston Astros

The Houston Astros have no good, logical reason to keep Hunter Pence right now, especially with his value being as high as it is ever going to be and this team going nowhere fast.

Sure, he is the "face of the franchise," but if the franchise stinks, what is he really worth to them? This team needs to overhaul it's barren farm system, and Pence is the piece that can be used to infuse some real talent into it.

According to reports, the Philadelphia Phillies offered a very good package that included top pitching prospect Jarred Cosart and Jonathan Singleton for Pence. If that report is true and Astros general manager Ed Wade turned it down, he should be fired on the spot because that is a really good deal for a team that must make a deal.

Whether Pence goes to the Phillies or somewhere else, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that the Astros get the best deal possible for him. The Astros might be holding out for a great deal, but it's hard to imagine anyone topping that Philadelphia offer.

Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Colorado Rockies

Ubaldo Jimenez is a surprising name on this list because he is only 27 and is signed to a very friendly contract through next season that includes team options for both 2013 and 2014.

There are two reasons that the Rockies are at least entertaining offers for the hard-throwing righty. One, they have fallen out of the race in the National League West and want to maximize all of the trade assets that they have on the roster. Two, Jimenez, despite having a great arm, has yet to turn into a full-fledged ace.

Sure, he had the great first half last year when he started the All-Star game, but since then he has had his share of struggles.

The team that has been most linked to Jimenez is the New York Yankees, who have a big need for a starting pitcher to put with CC Sabathia and the prospects in the system to get a deal done. It's doubtful that they will be willing to sacrifice three top prospects to get him, but, as we all know, if they get desperate enough, they will do anything.

Hiroki Kuroda, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Of all the starting pitchers available on the market, Kuroda is the best one that is likely to get moved. He has been a very effective pitcher for a long time, and the Dodgers have all sorts of problems in the front office that they need to try and move everyone that they can.

Kuroda doesn't have the stuff that someone like Ubaldo Jimenez does, but his results have been just as good, if not better. This season, for example, he has a 3.11 ERA and he is striking out nearly seven batters per nine innings pitched.

All of the teams that are looking at Jimenez have also been looking at Kuroda. He is not going to cost as much in prospects to get. The biggest obstacle standing in the way of him being dealt is his no-trade clause.

He has said that he would be willing to waive it under the right circumstances, but no one really knows what that means. If it's all about going to a contender, then he will be moved. If it's about going to a contender in a city that he wants to play in, the odds of him getting dealt decrease.

Since he is only on a one-year deal and there are only two months left in the season, I would be willing to bet that he waives his no-trade clause before the July 31 deadline.

Denard Span, CF, Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are in a very tricky position as we approach the trade deadline. They have struggled all season long due to injuries and poor performance, yet they sit only six games back in the American League Central.

If they think that they have a chance, and there's no reason to think that they don't, they will be reluctant to deal anyone.

If they want to write this season off, which is possible but sends a poor message to the fans, they will trade some of their more valuable pieces.

One of those pieces is Denard Span, who might be expendable anyway because top prospect Ben Revere has been playing good defense while his bat is still developing.

The Nationals are reportedly interested in Span, but the Twins have balked at the offers that have been made.

Span is signed to a very team-friendly contract, plays great defense and knows how to work a count. He is a terrific leadoff hitter, and would fit in nicely with what the Nationals are trying to build. If they really want him, they will have to up the ante to get him.

Ryan Ludwick, OF, San Diego Padres

Ryan Ludwick is all but guaranteed to be traded in the next 48 hours. The Padres are going nowhere this year and need to get looks at some younger players who are ready to play at the big league level, and Ludwick is one of the most coveted bats on the market, which should tell you how bare the hitting crop is this trade season.

The Cleveland Indians, who acquired Kosuke Fukudome on Thursday, are still looking to make more additions to their anemic offense, and Ludwick fits the profile of what they are looking for. They need anyone who can play an outfield position and hit for power, and that's about all that Ludwick can do because he doesn't hit for average or get on base.

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Indians are making a "strong push" for Ludwick. There isn't a lot of interest in him, for obvious reasons, but he is still one of the most likely candidates to be moved very soon.

Jeremy Guthrie, SP, Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles started the season out strong, but anyone who knows anything about the game could see that wasn't destined to last because of all the old players that they brought into the fold this offseason.

Now, it is another trade season in which the Orioles will be sellers, and they have plenty of guys that will be of interest to a number of contenders.

One of those guys is Jeremy Guthrie, who is reportedly being courted by the top two teams in the American League Central—Detroit and Cleveland.

Guthrie is not a difference-maker, but he is a capable innings-eater who can provide some quality innings to a contender in need of help in the starting rotation. Plus, getting out of the American League East is always a boost to a pitcher's worth.

Wandy Rodriguez, SP, Houston Astros

Wandy Rodriguez has been a solid National League pitcher since 2007. He always posts a good ERA and strikes out between seven and eight batters per nine innings pitched.

The Astros are in sale mode right now and want to unload Rodriguez if the price is right. The problem is that his market is very limited because of his contract and because he has been battered by the American League in interleague play.

In 22 games started against the junior circuit, he has an ERA of 5.25 and allowed 21 home runs.

If he moves to the American League, he will get lit up. If a National League contender, like Cincinnati, comes calling and makes an acceptable offer, the Astros would be wise to unload him.

The one thing that will scare away both National League and American League teams is Rodriguez' $13 million option in 2014, which becomes a player option if he is traded.

Michael Bourn, CF, Houston Astros

The third and final Astros player on the list, Michael Bourn is probably the best of the bunch. He is arguably the best defensive center fielder in baseball. His offense has gotten better every year, and this year he has posted career highs in average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

There haven't been a lot of rumors about Bourn up to this point, but with the team being forced to enter rebuild mode thanks to one of the worst big league teams and one of the worst farm systems in baseball, they would be wise to listen to offers on any of their better big league players.

ESPN.com lists Atlanta, Texas and Detroit as possible landing spots for him. Of those teams, Atlanta makes the most sense because they have a need at the top of the lineup and in center field with Jordan Schafer on the disabled list and Nate McLouth being Nate McLouth.

Regardless of where he goes, the Astros need to move all of the pieces that they can over the next 48 hours.

B.J. Upton, CF, Tampa Bay Rays

B.J. Upton's days in Tampa have to be numbered, right? The team called up top prospect Desmond Jennings last week, and when that happened it fueled speculation that a deal for Upton could already be in place—but here we are a week later and he is still a Ray.

There are a number of teams that are interested in Upton—who, by the way, is still only 26 years old—because he plays solid defense in center and still has the raw potential that scouts were raving about when he was coming up through the minors.

Upton just doesn't seem to fit into the Rays' plans moving forward and he can be a valuable asset for a team down the stretch and next season. His bat has gotten worse over the last four years, but he still has good home run power.

The list of teams who have at least inquired about Upton is quite long. In fact, ESPN.com lists six teams—Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington—that are still in the mix for his services.

The Rays won't hesitate to make a move for him, or anyone else for that matter, if they believe it will make them better next season.

Erik Bedard, SP, Seattle Mariners

Think back to the beginning of July. Seattle was hovering around .500, 3.5 games behind Texas in the American League West and considering buying at the trade deadline.

Fast-forward to July 29, following a 17-game losing streak, and the Mariners have actually toyed with the notion of trading Felix Hernandez.

While that isn't likely to happen for so many reasons, everyone else on the roster, particularly pitchers, is up for grabs. Erik Bedard is at the top of the Mariners' dumping list.

He is working on a one-year contract and, despite missing time this season due to injury including a DL stint right now, he has been very effective. His walk rate is the lowest of his career and he has 85 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched.

The Red Sox, who are in the market for a starting pitcher, have reportedly shown a lot of interest in Bedard. The Tigers are also in the mix as well.

He is scheduled to come off the DL on Friday and if he throws well, he could be dealt before the 4 p.m. EST deadline on Sunday.