MLB: Carlos Beltran, 5 MLB Veterans Who Could Be Moving

As May fades to June and the NBA and NHL Playoffs finally draw to a close, it is that time of year once again for MLB trade talk.

With the deadline set for July 31, as always, rumors are beginning to circulate about which players are due to be shipped and which players are hot commodities. 

Some teams (cough, cough, the Mets) are financial messes with salary issues that no lawyer wants to deal with, while some others, say the Rangers, Indians and Phillies, are sitting pretty with their current lineups and economic situations. 

Here are six of the many veteran players who could very well be shipped out of their current respective cities. 

6. Alfonso Soriano

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BOSTON, MA - MAY 20: Alfonso Soriano #12 of the Chicago Cubs breaks his bat in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on May 20, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.on May 20, 2011 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Chicago Cubs

At 35, the speed and consistency Soriano still showcases is amazing. He is still a solid defensive left fielder (his second career position) and leads the Cubs in home runs and RBIs with 11 and 23, respectively. 

Alas, he is still 35, and the Cubs do not look like they will be playing October baseball this season. Trading Soriano to a currently thriving team could provide the needed spark for them that he provides at either the plate or in the field and would give the Cubs a prospect or two for future seasons. 

5. Carlos Lee

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HOUSTON - MAY 14: Carlos Lee #45 of the Houston Astros during game action against the New York Mets at Minute Maid Park on May 14, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Carlos Lee is not playing well, and the Astros are doing absolutely terrible. He's 34 and only has four bombs on the season. To make matters worse, he is playing left field for Houston, and he is simply too slow. 

Lee should be dished to an American League squad who needs a DH (Yankees). There, he could focus on his hitting and not have to stress his body playing the field. As a DH, he could have four more solid seasons of production. 

4. Aramis Ramirez

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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 08: Aramis Ramirez #16 of the Chicago Cubs takes a swing against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on May 8, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Reds defeated the Cubs 2-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Ramirez is healthy, which looking at the past few years, is a change for him. The Cubs should—and most likely will—try to ship him out when he shows this promise. 

Due to the injuries he sustained the past few seasons, he has not been the hitter he once was in Chicago. He has only one home run on the season and a mediocre 17 RBIs. Nonetheless, he is batting .296, so he is no stranger on the bases. 

As I mentioned when writing about Soriano, this is not the Cubs' season, and they should trade high on the healthy Ramirez before he once again takes a trip to the disabled list. 

3. Prince Fielder

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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 17: Prince Fielder #28 of the Milwaukee Brewers at the plate against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 17, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

One of the best power hitters in baseball over the last five seasons, the 27-year-old Fielder may be nearing the end of his tenure in Milwaukee. No one will argue, of course, that it has been a successful one. 

Despite the success, Fielder is a a hot commodity who can demand multiple players, draft picks or money.

Also, the Brewers just signed Ryan Braun to a nine-year, $105 million deal. Braun has been hitting better than Fielder the last two seasons, and with the money Milwaukee is spending on the "Hebrew Hammer," it might be more economical and beneficial to ship Fielder out. 

Don't look for him to disappear—just to excite crowds and hit home runs and RBIs in another city. 

2. Jose Reyes

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HOUSTON - MAY 14: Shortstop Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets smiles at his bench after he intentionally dropped a soft line drive trying to double off Brett Wallace #2 of the Houston Astros in the seventh inning at Minute Maid Park on May 14, 2011 in H

Reyes is an absolute talent on possibly the biggest mess of a franchise in baseball right now. He is hitting .310 compared to his career average of .287, and he has already stolen seven bases this season.

It's unfortunate because Reyes should be the face of the Mets' franchise, but he might be traded despite his talent. 

Reyes will be a free agent after the season, and quite honestly, he will deserve a big-time contract.

Fred Wilpon, the Mets' owner, however, tends to disagree. He was quoted in a recent New Yorker article saying: "[Reyes] thinks he's going to get Carl Crawford money (seven years, $142)...He won't get it." 

An owner bad-mouthing one of his team's most consistent and delightful stars is inexcusable. I hope for Reyes' sake he gets shipped out to a winning organization. Hopefully karma will be kind and reward the Mets with a few young players with promise. 

1. Carlos Beltran

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DENVER, CO - MAY 12: Carlos Beltran #15 of the New York Mets rounds the bases on his third home run of the game off of Matt Lindstrom of the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning at Coors Field on May 12, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Beltran had three homeru

If Vegas were to place a bet on the most likely player to be traded this season, Beltran would be the sure-fire favorite. He is 34, not hitting like he used to and not getting along well with the Mets ownership. 

In the same controversial New Yorker article, Wilpon said: "We had some schmuck in New York who paid [Beltran] based on [his performance in the 2004 playoffs]. He's 65 to 70 percent of what he was."

Why any owner would depreciate the value of the biggest name on their roster is astonishing to anyone, yet it is clear the Mets are not happy with Beltran's production. They also do not have the money to keep him (or anyone for that matter).

Beltran is still a valuable asset, and many teams would love to sign him at a reasonable value. He is still batting .280 on the season with eight home runs and 25 RBIs, and those are respectable numbers for a 34-year-old outfielder.

As is the case with Lee, I would not be shocked if he headed to an American League squad to bat in the DH slot.