MLB Trade Speculation: Domonic Brown and 3 Players the Phillies Should Keep

The MLB Trade Deadline is less than a week away and some key contributors for the Philadelphia Phillies have been involved in trade rumors. The Phillies have arguably their best roster in their entire 121 year history as a baseball franchise, but they still have some glaring holes that need to be filled.

The search for a RH power-hitter began when the Washington Nationals made Jayson Werth, "an offer he couldn't refuse." The Phillies bullpen has been stellar all season long, but questions still linger about the youth and inexperience that currently resides at the back end.

2011 is clearly an all-in year for the Philadelphia Phillies as they have charged out to the best record in MLB, and the second most wins after 100 games in team history. Philly Nation expects GM Ruben Amaro to make another big splash at the trade deadline as he has done in each of the previous two seasons.

Here are the top three players that have been involved in trade rumors that the Phillies should keep at all costs.

3. Jarrad Cosart

Yahoo's Jeff Passan reported that the Philadelphia Phillies have declared top pitching prospect Jarred Cosart to be unavailable in a deal, especially for a rental like Carlos Beltran. Vance Worley has been absolutely spectacular in his first full season with the team, but would the Phillies be better off trading a guy that has No. three starter potential at best while his stock is at an all-time high? You bet they would.

The Phillies have a plethora of starting pitching prospects at the single-A level where Lakewood has won back-to-back titles, but no Laskewood pitcher has more potential than 6'3" 180 lb. 21 year old Jarred Cosart of the Clearwater Threshers. 

Cosart is the Phillies minor league pitcher with the "best fastball" according to Baseball America. He is also the fourth-ranked prospect in the farm system. In 2010, the Phillies sent the young righty to Lakewood, where he struck out 77 batters in just 71 innings. His record is only .500 this year and his ERA is a bit high, but he still has all of the tool's necessary to be a starting pitcher in the majors.

Cosart can hit the high 90's with his fastball and he has shown the endurance to keep his velocity deep into games. He has shown excellent control in his short career and the ability to keep the ball low in the zone. A power pitcher that can keep the ball down has the ability to be a great big-league starter.

His curveball has a lot of movement but he needs more repetitions before it is major league ready. His changeup still needs a lot of work before it is a reliable third pitch. Look for Cosart to crack the starting rotation in two-three years.

With the salaries of Cliff Lee, Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay and potentially Cole Hamels all being above $20 million per season in two years, it is crucial that the Phillies hold onto a promising young player like Cosart whose salary is under control.

2. Antonio Bastardo

Antonio Bastardo has always had an electric arm, but there were always questions about his control and whether he could stay healthy. It may be fair to say that those questions have been answered in 2011. Bastardo has been as dominant as any player on the Philadelphia Phillies this year, and Phillie fans may be watching the closer of the future blossom before their eyes. 

Ryan Madson has been brilliant in the closer's role all season long, and he has answered his own questions about whether he has the mental toughness to be a closer this season. Madson is all set to be a free agent and he has hired everyone's favorite guy in Scott Boras to ensure a huge payday. The Phillies will likely have to re-sign Jimmy Rollins (and give him a raise) due to the lack of options in the minor league system system and via free agency.

Also, Cole Hamels may be the best pitcher on the Phillies this year and will clearly be looking for a deal worth at least $100 million. Can the Phillies really afford to let Ryan Madson walk? Antonio Bastardo is making that question seem a lot simpler than it was prior to 2011.

Bastardo is 3-0 with eight saves and seven holds thus far. He has a ridiculous 1.42 ERA and .82 WHIP. He has thrown 38 innings thus far and allowed only 15 hits and six earned runs. His 10.46 K/9 ratio is Halladay-esque is it not?

The 25 year old Bastardo is finally cracking into the potential of how good he can really be. Unlike Vance Worley, Bastardo has the electric stuff that can not be taught but is God-given. The Phillies need to be all-in this season, but they can not trade Antonio Bastardo as he is too valuable to their present and future.

1. Domonic Brown

Here are the prospect ratings for Domonic Brown by Baseball America:

Pre-2009: Rated #48 Prospect
Pre-2010: Rated #15 Prospect
Pre-2011: Rated #4 Prospect

Brown has been linked in trade rumors for Hunter Pence and Carlos Beltran as he is the one player that GM's across the league covet most. According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, the New York Mets and Houston Astros have their eyes set on the Phillies number one prospect, and it would be a crime if they did not.

The Phillies need to hold onto Domonic Brown for the simple reason that he has the potential to be a superstar. A true five-tool player that will be leaving Atlanta Braves fans thinking, "Jayson Heyward who?"

Brown has been the Phillies' top prospect for the past three years and he has already shown glimpses of what kind of player he can be. You can be assured that Charlie Manuel scared the "lack of hustle" right out of him.

Brown is ranked as the Phil's "best hitter for average" and "best outfield arm" by Baseball America.  Brown has the potential to be a 30 HR and 30 steal guy, and those player's don't come around very often.

He has tremendous power and speed and a cannon for an arm. He can play either right or left field and will be a middle-of-the-order power bat for the next decade. We saw last season with Brown in right that you better have great speed if you want to test his arm.

This is the final year of Raul's contract and it will probably be his last year as a Phillie, but there is no need to fret Philadelphia. The Phillies have a star in the making in Dom Brown.

After all, if they wouldn't trade him for Roy Halladay or Roy Oswalt then he must be pretty good right?