MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Most Likely Cellar-Dweller Salary Dumps

As the July 31 trade deadline approaches in Major League Baseball, rumors continue to fly about who will land where, who are buyers and sellers and what difference it makes for whoever's involved.

Some big names have been floated out there.

Some have been aggressively thrust out there.

After all, this is the time of year when the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer...at least for one season.

The contending teams throw prospects at cellar dwellers, while the cellar dwellers cough up bad contracts as fast as you can say "Chicago Cubs."

For the sake of this slideshow, cellar dwellers are considered teams that apparently don't have a chance to win their division or a wild-card berth, so teams like the New York Mets and Washington Nationals will be included, even though they are .500 teams.

And given the term "salary dump" in the headline, these are players that have 2011 salaries of around $6 million or more.

So, without further ado, let us take a look at the most likely players to be dumped by teams essentially out of the playoff picture.

10. Alfonso Soriano

Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano is only No. 10 on this list because he has a massive contract that extends past this season, so any team that trades for him will at least take on part of the contract.

The Cubs would reportedly be willing to "absorb a high percentage" of Soriano's contract if there was a team willing to trade for him.

Soriano does have a no-trade clause in his contract—the same no trade-clause that has Aramis Ramirez apparently refusing to leave Chicago—but he has said he won't stand in the Cubs' way if they trade him to a contender.

Ah, how sweet.

GM Jim Hendry has said he will aggressively pursue deals for Soriano, and given Soriano has still hit 15 home runs this season, it's possible Hendry could find a team that bites.

So far, not much has been mentioned, except tentative speculation that the New York Yankees or San Francisco Giants could be interested.

9. Kosuke Fukudome

It's no coincidence that the least likely candidates on this list have massive contracts, or that both play for the Chicago Cubs.

While Soriano's contract defies the term "massive," outfielder Kosuke Fukudome's isn't much better, with a $13.5 million salary for 2011 alone.

Like Soriano, however, the Cubs have said they'd be willing to take on some of his remaining contract, and unlike Soriano, Fukudome has at least four known suitors, according to ESPN's Bruce Levine.

One of these clubs is expected to be the Cleveland Indians, who could use another outfielder because, yes, Grady Sizemore is injured again.

Fukudome hasn't been the home run monster he was tabbed as when he played in Japan, but he has a high OPS and he's always been a solid defensive player.

8. Jason Marquis

Washington Nationals right-hander Jason Marquis has a decent ERA this season, he's a veteran, he's owed $7.5 million in 2011 and the Nationals are currently 15 games out of first place in the National League East.

Translation?

He's a prime piece to be moved to a contender.

His salary, combined with his high 1.42 WHIP don't make him a lock, but it would indeed be surprising if he wasn't moved by the trade deadline.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com recently reported that the Arizona Diamondbacks could be a potential suitor, given they are thinking about adding starting pitching.

7. Jeremy Guthrie

I see Baltimore Orioles right-hander Jeremy Guthrie with the same chances as Jason Marquis in getting moved; not a lock, but likely.

Guthrie, owed a little less than $6 million this season, has a 4.33 ERA in 2011, and he's a veteran who can come in and generally give you a chance to win the ballgame.

Several teams are thought to be interested in the 32-year-old, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians or Chicago White Sox.

The Orioles may want young pitching in return, which could ward some teams away, but given the amount of hubbub about the right-hander, it would be hard to see him not getting moved.

6. B.J. Upton

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder B.J. Upton is a multi-talented, five-tool athlete, and he's hit 15 home runs, driven in 52 runs, scored 47 runs and stolen 23 bases.

So why is he on the trade block?

Well, for one, he's also hitting .229 for the season.

But in addition to that, he's a free agent by season's end and the Rays don't appear to be in the running for the American League East or the Wild Card (those darn Red Sox and Yankees).

He's also caused a commotion in Tampa this season for lack of hustle and some mental miscues that have cost the Rays.

There's also star prospect Desmond Jennings, who was just called up to the big leagues by the Rays.

According to the New York Post's Joel Sherman, interested teams are rumored to include the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals.

5. Josh Willingham

Given the Oakland Athletics are out of the pennant race and they love trading high-priced players for budding prospects with high on-base percentages, it's no wonder that outfielder Josh Willingham has been mentioned plenty of times leading up to the trade deadline.

Willingham is getting paid $6 million this season and he's eligible for free agency after this season.

Although he's only hitting .241, he does have 13 home runs and 50 RBI this season for the Athletics.

The Athletics have reportedly been asking for a lot for Willingham, according to FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, but you would have to think the club would back down a little bit as it gets closer to the deadline.

Not a whole lot of teams have been mentioned in connection with Willingham, but I think he could be a possibility for the San Francisco Giants if they lose out on the Carlos Beltran Sweepstakes. Pirates beat writer Bob Biertempfel would also include Pittsburgh in the mix.

4. Juan Uribe

When the Los Angeles Dodgers "stole" shortstop Juan Uribe away from the San Francisco Giants before the season, they certainly didn't expect this.

Signed for three years and $21 million, Uribe is currently hitting .204 with four home runs and an on-base percentage of .264.

The Dodgers could stand to get rid of some high-priced pieces given their financial situation, and a contender could possibly look at Uribe as an impact bat off the bench with a flair for the dramatic (a la 2010, during the Giants' World Series run).

3. Heath Bell

San Diego Padres right-hander Heath Bell is one of the best closers in baseball, but the Padres likely won't be able to afford him once he hits free agency after this season.

Also, the Padres are in last place in the National League West, and there's no reason for them to think about bolstering their squad for this season.

According to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, teams who reportedly have interest include the Texas Rangers, L.A. Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds.

Anyone I'm leaving out?

Probably. In short, everyone wants this guy.

Not surprising given he has a 2.40 ERA and 29 saves thus far this season.

2. Ryan Ludwick

Ryan Ludwick (along with Josh Willingham, B.J. Upton and Carlos Beltran) has been one of the most talked-about outfielders leading up to the trade deadline.

He's shown he can hit for power, especially in the past with the St. Louis Cardinals, and he has the fiery demeanor most contenders would love.

Possible destinations include Philadelphia, Boston, Cleveland, Cincinnati and San Francisco.

Ludwich is currently hitting .242 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI.

He's also a solid outfielder.

1. Carlos Beltran

Expect anyone else?

Not only is New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran hitting the cover off the ball, he's a free agent after this season, and the Mets have even said they'd take on a good chunk of his enormous salary if they were granted a top prospect in return.

Right now, the San Francisco Giants look like they have the best chance of landing the prized six-time All-Star, who's hitting .289 with 15 home runs, 65 RBI and 58 runs this season.

Other teams rumored to be in the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes include the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers.

One way or another, Beltran is headed out of New York.

You can bet on that.