MLB Trade Rumors: Carlos Beltran, Ubaldo Jimenez, Heath Bell and the Latest News

With the Major League Baseball trade deadline just 11 days away, some big names are available if the price is right. Carlos Beltran, Ubaldo Jimenez, Heath Bell, B.J. Upton and Hunter Pence are all names that have been bantered about by fans around the league.

Of course, it is unclear whether or not these players are legitimately being shopped or they are just rumors, but with more teams in contention to make the playoffs than in any recent season, it could be a very active deadline day. Or, since so many teams might consider themselves buyers, trade-deadline day could turn into a dud; nobody knows and that's what makes it so intriguing.

With so many sites dedicated purely to rumors and speculation, the line between real rumors and completely fabricated ones is more blurry than ever, so fans have to be cautious when getting their news from less reputable sites.

The likelihood that your favorite team is going to get a top prospect for your utility infielder is basically zero; just something to remember as the deadline approaches.

With that in mind, here is all the latest news on five of the biggest names on the trade market.

Hunter Pence

The Houston Astros might be ready to move right fielder Hunter Pence, who has accumulated a 2.9 WAR so far this season.

ESPN's Buster Olney says the Braves might be interested:

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Sources: HOU shows willingness to trade Pence; rival executives expect he will move. Braves have prospects to make deal happen; we'll see.

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Pence has a batting line of .315/.356/.478 so far this season and has the best walk rate of his career. He would seem to be an ideal fit for the overly aggressive Atlanta Braves.

The problem is that Pence hasn't played center field since 2007 and that is the only position of need in the outfield for the NL wild-card leaders.

If the Braves were convinced he could play center on a regular basis, the move would help an offense in need of another bat. Pence's teammate Michael Bourn would make more sense for Atlanta.

James Shields

James Shields has a 2.60 ERA with a more than respectable 3.17 FIP and 2.91 xFIP combo to back up his strong bounce-back season, but could he be on the move?

Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports said it's possible:

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It would be a pretty good time for the Rays to trade Shields. He’s been fantastic this year, logging seven complete games so far, and showing once again that he is a total workhorse. And of course, given how little starting pitching is available at the moment, they could demand a pretty high price for him, I’d presume. I mean, it’s not like the Reds are the only team who would have a use for the guy.

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Although the Tampa Bay Rays still have an outside chance of making the playoffs, it looks like they will be the odd team out in the AL East this season. Shields has been able to keep the ball in the park this season, which was a major problem in 2010, and his luck has also improved.

He would be a great addition for any contender even though the advanced stats predict a minor regression over the rest of the season. Alongside the Cincinnati Reds, the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians could be places where Shields could push a team over the top and into the playoffs.

Heath Bell

Heath Bell is having his third straight magnificent season out of the San Diego Padres bullpen. With the team in sell-mode heading to the deadline, however, the chances are good that Bell will be sporting another jersey on Aug. 1.

Tim Dierkes of mlbtraderumors.com puts together the pieces:

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Padres closer Heath Bell appeared on ESPN's Doug Gottlieb show yesterday. He thinks his top three suitors are the Rangers, Phillies, and Cardinals, and believes he'd probably close only for the Cards.

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It is interesting that a player would have so much knowledge of the trade negotiations surrounding him, but he could just be guessing like everybody else. The Phillies seem like a logical landing spot, especially considering they will want to ease Brad Lidge back into the bullpen.

If Lidge can come back healthy to team up with Bell, Antonio Bastardo and Ryan Madson, it would be impossible to find a more complete pitching staff in baseball.

Ubaldo Jimenez

It appears the image in the distance that appeared to say the Colorado Rockies were looking to trade right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez was nothing but a mirage.

The Denver Post's Woody Paige makes a cooky attempt to explain the situation:

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Listen up! Hands off! The Rockies are not dealing Ubaldo.

You don't trade Longs Peak for New York's Pocantico Hills and three knolls to be named later. You don't trade the Denver Mint for Boston baked beans. You don't trade the Platte for the three Pittsburgh rivers — Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria? Keep all your dirt, Texas, and all your lutefisk, Minnesota.

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This might be good news for all the teams involved in the bidding process for Jimenez, such as the New York Yankees, because he clearly he isn't the same pitcher that he was in the first half of 2010. Last season, Jimenez's fastball averaged 96.1 mph.

This season though, that number dropped to 93.3 mph. As a matter of fact, Jimenez's average pitch speeds have dropped across the board. He clearly isn't the ace he was before the All-Star break last year, so teams would have likely had to overpaid for him.

Carlos Beltran

New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran has proven he can come up big in the playoffs. Could a move to a contender allow him to boost his value before he enters free agency once again?

SI's Jon Heyman says it looks like the Phillies are the front-runner:

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The Phillies appear to be at least an early favorite in the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes that's drawn interest from as many as 10 teams. Philadelphia has suggested publicly that it doesn't want to add payroll, but it has the prospects to get a deal done. The Mets have signaled a willingness to pay some or all of the $7 million or so remaining on Beltran's salary, and Philly isn't averse to the surprise move (see Lee, Cliff).

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If the Philadelphia Phillies were to acquire both Heath Bell and Beltran, it would be quite a blow to the rest of the teams in the National League. Not only were their pitching staff be the best in baseball, but Beltran would bring his 154 wRC+ (100 is the league average) to the bandbox that is Citizens Bank Park to give them a more potent lineup as well.

Although other contenders, including the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves, are rumored to be involved, it seems like the Phillies are clear front-runners to get a deal done. Although the contract-year myth is one that is highly debatable, there definitely is a trend with Beltran that he produces best when money is on the line.

It might be the extra push the Phillies need to put themselves over the top in the World Series.