MLB Trade Rumors: 3 Stars Who Won't Be Dealt Before the Deadline

MLB's midseason non-waiver trade deadline has already seen plenty of star players come and go, and may even see a few more before the shopping stops at 4 p.m. ET.

From Carlos Beltran bidding farewell to the Big Apple, to Hunter Pence hustling out of Houston, to the Cleveland Indians upgrading with Ubaldo Jimenez, the last few days have been busy with big moves after a rather slow start to the action.

A few more could be in store for the next couple hours, though teams will certainly have to hustle if anything's going to get done.

And for every All-Star that has been sent packing, there are many more who are staying put despite speculation to the contrary.

Here, then, are three players who figure to find themselves in the same place as before once the dust settles this afternoon.

B.J. Upton

Once upon a time, the market was teeming with outfielders and B.J. Upton seemed like one of the most likely to move.

The Tampa Bay Rays had seemingly tired of Upton's inconsistency at the plate (.226, 16 home runs, 54 RBI) and were fully prepared to dispatch him after calling up 24-year-old Desmond Jennings, who has torn up the turf at Tropicana Field with five multi-hit games since he was called up.

Upton's talent and time left under contract made him a cheaper and more attractive long-term option than Carlos Beltran, thereby inviting everyone from the Atlanta Braves to the Washington Nationals to inquire with Rays GM Andrew Friedman.

Things have since cooled considerably, with the gung-ho Cleveland Indians now taking a firm interest in Upton's services. However, if the Tribe instead go for Ryan Ludwick of the San Diego Padres, Upton will likely be spending the rest of the season in Tampa.

If so, look for the Rays to put him back on the block after the season, in time for baseball's winter meetings.

Ramon Hernandez

The trade deadline is practically just a blink of an eye away, yet no one has figured out what's going on with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds are currently three games under .500 and in fourth place in the National League Central, which would suggest to some (or maybe most?) that they're firmly out of the postseason picture.

Yet, the club itself is seemingly taking heart in the fact that only 6.5 games separate Cincy from the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.

As such, the up-and-down Reds may just sit tight at the break, neither buying nor selling, which would be a severe disappointment to teams in need of help behind the backstop (e.g. the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves, though the latter is speculation), as that would pull Ramon Hernandez clearly off the market.

Hernandez is due to be a free agent at season's end, and the Reds already have a long-term replacement in waiting in the form of Devin Mesoraco (not to mention 2010 first-rounder Yasmani Grandal).

However, if Dusty Bakers' boys really are keen to "contend," there's no chance they'll move Hernandez.

Heath Bell

It's crazy to think that after all the hustle and bustle that has surrounded Heath Bell in the weeks leading up to the deadline, he could still be a Padre at day's end.

Seemingly every contender has taken a turn as the leader in the clubhouse to land Bell's services, though each one, from the Rangers to the Angels to the Cardinals and beyond, has subsequently lost most, if not all, interest in the two-time All-Star closer.

Upon closer examination, however, it wouldn't be all that crazy for Bell to stay put. For one, Bell, a native of nearby Oceanside, California, isn't exactly rushing to leave San Diego and may even give the Padres a hometown discount in free agency.

Padres GM Jed Hoyer is banking on such a discount for the cash-strapped Pads. If that doesn't materialize, Hoyer will instead be looking forward to the two first-round draft picks his organization will get for losing Bell, who will be a Type A free agent.

There remains some tepid interest in Bell from a number of clubs, though it seems unlikely at this point that anyone will cave to the Padres' demands of two or three top prospects for a two-month rental, no matter how tremendous a rental Bell may be.