MLB Trade Speculation: Possible Destinations for 6 Players on the Block

As we draw closer and closer to the July 31st MLB trade deadline, it is becoming ever more clear which teams will be searching for that late-season boost to the playoffs, which teams will stay content with what they have and which teams will throw in the towel to try to cash in on their star players while they still can. 

What makes this season different from years' past is that so many teams are either in contention or on the rise. Very few teams are playing poorly enough to justify liquidating their assets, while an excess number of teams need that extra push.

The teams that get deals done this deadline might be the ones that wind up making the playoffs.

The way I see it, there are six big- or semi-big-name players who should be on the block this season, and with so many teams going after so few players, I am going to try to narrow down the possible trade partners to just three teams per player.

Heath Bell, RHP (San Diego Padres)

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SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 12: Heath Bell #21 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Petco Park on June 12, 2011 in San Diego, California. The Nationals won 2-0. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Get

Heath Bell had some pretty big shoes to fill when the Padres asked him to replace the great Trevor Hoffman, the current all-time saves leader. 

Bell proved he was up to the task, recording low ERAs and 40-plus save seasons his first two years as a closer.

He’s off to a similar start this year, which also happens to be a contract year for him.

With the Padres deep into a rebuilding stage, the odds of Bell re-signing with the Friars are slim to none.  So, the Padres will likely attempt to trade Bell in this poor trade market to get a better return for him.  

Teams interested in relief pitching in general will likely be on the hunt for Bell, even if they don’t need a closer.  With the price tags both from the Padres and from Bell though, a team looking for a setup man may not be able to justify swinging such a deal unless their bullpen is in pretty bad shape.

Possible Interested Teams:  Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals

Jason Marquis, RHP (Washington Nationals)

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 17: Jason Marquis #21 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park on June 17, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Jason Marquis has been a pleasant surprise for the Washington Nationals this season. After missing most of 2010 due to injury and posting subpar numbers when he did pitch, Marquis has revived himself in 2011.  

He has put up a 7-2 record with a 3.86 ERA through his first 14 starts—which, by the way, is more games than he played in all of last year. The Nationals have managed to leave the cellar of the NL East due to the recent implosion of the Florida Marlins, but they are still a ways off from contending for the division title.  

Marquis is in the last year of his two-year contract with the Nats, so trading him for some prospects would likely be an appealing option for the organization. Their future revolves around young players like Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Danny Espinosa—not an aging veteran like Marquis.

Marquis would likely qualify as a Type B free agent, so trading him at the deadline would probably be the best way to obtain a good return on him.

Possible Interested Teams:  Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees

Carlos Beltran, OF (New York Mets)

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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 02: Carlos Beltran #15 of the New York Mets folows through on his third inning three run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 2, 2011 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Me

Carlos Beltran has revived his career in 2011 for the Mets.  

After suffering injury after injury, Beltran is finally turning it around in the final year of his contract. 

But with the Mets having virtually no shot at the playoffs this year or in the foreseeable future, they have already expressed their intentions of trading the former All-Star outfielder. Beltran would likely qualify as a Type A free agent at season’s end, so the Mets would be looking for a package of talented prospects in return and would have to weigh the choices of trading him versus collecting compensatory draft picks for him. 

Beltran will likely end up being traded, and whichever team makes a deal for him will be acquiring both a plus defender for their outfield and a dangerous hitter to plug into their lineup.

Possible Interested Teams: Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners

Carlos Zambrano, RHP (Chicago Cubs)

Carlos Zambrano is a headcase, there’s no argument about that. He can be one of the best pitchers in the game on some nights and one of the worst on others. Umpires arrive at the ballpark knowing Zambrano could have a meltdown and throw a temper tantrum on any given night. 

But when everything is said and done, Zambrano knows how to win. 

Big Z has not had a losing record since 2002 and has never posted an ERA over 4.00. Last season, after a dreadful start that led to a bullpen stint, Zambrano worked with his pitching coach and had one of the best second halves for a starter in recent memory. 

His pitching coach, Larry Rothschild, left the Cubs and joined the New York Yankees for the 2011 season. Although Yankees officials have denied the club has any interest in Zambrano, I would not rule out a possibly reunion. Any club in need of starting pitching should look into Zambrano, as the Cubs would likely not ask for a lot in return.

Possible Interested Teams: Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees

Wandy Rodriguez, LHP (Houston Astros)

Wandy Rodriguez has been a member of the Astros since his debut in 2005 and has had a successful career in Houston. He has posted a career 67-67 record with a 4.09 ERA and has gotten off to a great start in 2011, despite pitching for the team with the worst record in baseball. 

The Astros are deep into a rebuilding stage, having traded away two of their franchise players—Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt—just last season. Both Berkman and Oswalt have proved to have a lot left in their tanks, and are performing at high levels for the Cardinals and Phillies, respectively.  

So, if the Astros are truly dedicated to getting younger and focusing on the future rather than the present, trading Rodriguez right now would be a smart move. 

His value has never been higher, being a talented left-handed starter. A lot of teams are in need of starting pitching, and lefties are always high in demand, so the Astros could potentially get a package of three high-level prospects in return.

Possible Interested Teams: Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers

Jose Reyes, SS (New York Mets)

Jose Reyes is a rare type of player.

He can hit for average and power, he can play Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop and he can steal a ton of bases. Reyes has had some injury issues in the past, but his performance this year makes that easy to forget, as he has been one of the best hitters in baseball in 2011. 

So why would the Mets trade such a great player? 

Well first off, the Mets have no chance at competing in the tough NL East, both now and in the foreseeable future. The Phillies and Braves are both excellent teams right now, and the Nationals have some of the best young talent the major leagues.

The Mets should not be looking to compete with the Phillies and Braves right now, but rather with the Nationals a few years down the road. To do this, they must trade Reyes for a package of high-level prospects who can contribute to the Mets in future seasons. 

Mets fans may love Reyes, but if they want to win anytime in the near future, trading him away would be smart move.

Possible Interested Teams: Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants