MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Sluggers Who Must Be Moved at the Deadline

With the 2011 MLB Home Run Derby underway, it’s time to look ahead to the trade deadline to see which sluggers should be dealt by July 31.

It’s only fitting that we address slugging needs with the Home Run Derby showcasing the best of the best sluggers in today’s game. As they wow us, many general managers will be looking around to the league to see which position players who could help wow their fans and propel their team into the postseason.

This year’s deadline is expected to be highlighted by position players due to the lack of starting pitching available. Go ahead, find a quality starter on the open market, I dare you. Wandy Rodriguez? Brett Myers? Bruce Chen? Ha! Pathetic.

This year, pitching is all about bolstering the bullpen with the likes of a Francisco Rodriguez, Heath Bell, Joakim Soria and a host of other relievers.

Yet the sluggers take top priority this summer, especially from the outfield. We may not see them all moved, but each general manager should be working the phones to try to move each and every player on this list.

They should all garner a ton of attention, though some will obviously be more coveted than others. Still, each slugger has displayed the talent in the past to destroy pitchers and become one of the more feared hitters in the game.

10. Ryan Ludwick, OF, San Diego Padres

Pound-for-pound the best option on the market due to his affordable contract, veteran experience and pure power.

Ludwick starts off our list as one of the top sluggers who should be traded. San Diego is not headed to the postseason, but Ludwick could very well power a team into the tournament.

He is hitting .245 with 11 HR and 55 RBI, but this is a man who with solid protection in St. Louis once blasted 37 HR and 113 RBI.

He clearly has the ability to be a major contributor with his bat. He can even hold his own in the outfield, which makes him more than just a DH candidate.

9. Jason Bay, OF, New York Mets

Jason Bay thrived in Pittsburgh and Boston, but New York’s Citi Field is just destroying his career.

The veteran outfielder is having difficulty pushing the ball past the fences. He has been frequently injured, but he is lacking in the home run department because the Mets play in a solar system all to themselves.

Bay could still head to other teams around the league and produce in the heart of the lineup. He has a great eye and is patient at the plate. He is still solid in the outfield.

The only thing holding him back from being traded is his contract, but he has the ability to earn every penny back if in the right ballpark.  

8. Jeff Francoeur, OF, Kansas City Royals

Jeff Francoeur is enjoying a solid season in Kansas City, but the veteran is not in the future plans for the Royals. This is a young team that needs to capitalize on its soaring veterans this year in order to compete for years to come led by Eric Hosmer.

Francoeur is a solid outfielder who can make great contact on the ball and drive it out of the park. There are a lot of teams out there in desperate need of a quality and affordable veteran of his caliber. Not only does he have an affordable contract, but it would not take much to get him from the Royals like it would most of the other players on this list.

He is batting .265 with 12 HR and 56 RBI, which would make him an ideal candidate for the Boston Red Sox.

7. Carlos Lee, OF, Houston Astros

Carlos Lee is suffering the worst season of his career and will surely continue to disappoint in Houston.

The aging veteran comes with a hefty contract, but it will expire at the end of the season. He desperately needs a change of scenery in order to enjoy success again. He needs protection in the lineup and, more importantly, winning culture.

He is rapidly declining, especially in the field, but he still has the power to be a force in the lineup. He has 338 career homers and 1,240 runs batted in. If any contending team has the payroll, they could surely land him for cheap because Houston is going every which way but up.

The Astros will begin to unleash a fire sale after the All-Star break and a select few teams will be able to capitalize on potentially quality second-half assets.

6. Alfonso Soriano, OF, Chicago Cubs

Alfonso Soriano is atrocious in left field.

Now that that’s out of the way, we can get on to business.

Soriano still has a ton of pop in his bat and would make for a great DH in the American League. We’ve heard rumblings that he could head back to the Bronx with the Bombers. If there’s any truth to that, Chicago needs to go full force to ship him off.

He’s never lived up to his immense expectations coming from Washington. He could not get the job done in the field or at the plate to take the team to the next level, which is all that matters.

This year alone he is hitting .265 with 14 HR and 41 RBI. If he could head to the AL and just worry about slugging, he and the Cubs would be much better off.

The Cubs need to finally rid themselves of the Soriano era, and now is the time to do so.

5. Michael Cuddyer, OF, Minnesota Twins

Michael Cuddyer is a classy veteran and has been a consistent starter for the Minnesota Twins. He is one of the more well-rounded and affordable players on this list.

Although it will be difficult for Minnesota and Cuddyer to part ways given that it’s all they’ve ever known, it would be a nice “thank you” by the Twins organization.

Cuddyer deserves to play for a contender and will be a free agent at the end of the season. Minnesota could reunite with their right fielder in the offseason, which is why they should work to ship him off to a team to fight for a championship because he will not have that opportunity with the Twins in the second half.

Cuddyer is hitting .298 with 13 HR and 43 RBI. Think San Francisco or Philadelphia would enjoy that type of production in their lineup?

4. Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Chicago Cubs

Aramis Ramirez would have to waive his no-trade clause, but at this point in the Cubbies history, why the hell not!?

The Cubs are not going anywhere, as usual. Now is the perfect time for the team to capitalize on their top slugger heading into the deadline. If they can find a suitor Ramirez would play for, the team must part ways with the fan favorite.

A-Ram could end up as the top rental as he heats up with the season. He is currently hitting .298 with 15 homers and 15 RBI.

I love the commitment A-Ram has shown to Chicago, but if he has the opportunity to play for a contender, all parties would accept.

3. Adam Dunn, OF/DH, Chicago White Sox

Adam Dunn was one of the most feared hitters in the game. It’s amazing how the mighty have fallen.

Dunn cashed in last offseason with the White Sox, who immediately put him in the designated hitter role. Off the bat, everyone thought this would be a great move. Turns out, it was awful.

Dunn simply cannot get into the DH role as he is left dissecting each and every at-bat.

Switching from a position player to the DH takes a toll on the mind. Players need to get in the field to get a feel of the game and divert their attention from their last at-bat.

He is hitting just .190 with nine home runs and 34 RBI on the season.

Clearly atrocious numbers, which is why it’s time the White Sox capitalize while they can. Before he suffers career lows year-in, year-out, take the loss now. Eat your pride and send him packing to a National League squad.

2. Carlos Beltran, OF, New York Mets

Beltran is enjoying a bounce back season from knee injury as he heads into the All-Star break having been selected as an All-Star.

It is quite the accomplishment for Beltran and the Mets organization, but he has repeatedly disappointed in New York. He never failed to live up to his expectations, but he could be a steal at the deadline.

He has a hefty contract, but he is worth it for the second half of the season. Whoever rents him for the stretch run will not have to worry about re-signing him at the end of the season, but they will reap the benefits of him trying to secure another big contract.

Carlos is determined to improve on his great numbers, which include 13 homers and 58 RBI. We cannot forget that these stellar numbers are in New York with a terrible lineup around him. Imagine if he was in Texas or Boston…

1. Jose Reyes, SS, New York Mets

He may not be a slugger, but he is currently one of the most feared hitters in the game.

Reyes is enjoying an MVP-type first half of the season, despite currently enjoying it from the disabled list.

Still, Reyes already has 30 stolen bases and leads the Majors with a .354 average.

He will command a hefty, long-term contract in the offseason, which is why the Mets need to ship him off immediately. He is injury-prone, but he could be the top rental for select teams looking to make a World Series run or even repeat.

With his blazing speed on the base paths, every general manager is wondering if it’s worth taking a chance on Reyes for the rest of the season.

New York may not want to let him go, but they should ship off this career-underachieving and 2011-overachieving superstar.