MLB Trade Rumors: 7 Best Hitters on the Market with Deadline Approaching

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is just five days away. With so many contenders looking to add another bat to their rosters before the run to the playoffs, it is setting up to be one of the most active deadlines in recent memory.

Carlos Beltran is clearly the best available hitter of the market and has a history of postseason success, which will be key for any team that acquires him. The next tier below Beltran includes players like Hunter Pence and B.J. Upton.

Despite the fact that so many teams are looking to add another hitter, most of the names that are being floated around so far, other than the big three outfielders, are platoon players that can team up with another player on the roster to bolster a lineup.

Here is a list of the seven best hitters available for trade as the deadline approaches.

7. Carlos Pena

Yes, Carlos Pena strikes out a lot. Yes, his batting average usually struggles to reach .250. That doesn't mean he can't help a contender. So far this season he has a .779 OPS, including a .334 on-base percentage, thanks in part to a 14 percent walk rate.

SI.com's Jon Heyman says Pena will be wearing a new uniform: "Carlos Pena will almost surely be moved. Have heard the dbacks could be in play there."

Aside from the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have the seventh-worst wOBA from their first baseman this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates could also be in play for Pena. The Pirates have the fifth-worst first base wOBA. Both teams would greatly benefit from a power bat in the middle of the lineup.

If you have any doubts that those two teams will be buyers, consider that the Pirates are currently tied for first place in the National League Central, while Arizona is just four games out in the NL West and are players in the Wild Card race as well.

Neither team will be able to outbid the big name teams for Beltran or Upton, but Pena would be a nice prize.

6. Michael Bourn

Michael Bourn is on pace to have the best season of his career and his blazing speed in center field is something several teams could use.

Stephen Goff of Examiner.com relays some interesting news:

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Although Wade continues to take phone calls from playoff contenders looking to potentially work out a deal for either Pence or Rodriguez, an MLB source told Examiner.com that Bourn's name isn't coming up as much in discussions at this point.

The speedy Bourn may arguably rank as the top defensive center fielder and base stealer in the big leagues, yet his weaknesses, combined with the fact that he's about to get more expensive heading into the final year of arbitration, outweigh the positives and could be enough to turn away interested teams.

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It is quite surprising that nobody would be at least inquiring about a center fielder with a 14.4 WAR over the past five seasons. Although the Atlanta Braves are in the discussion for Carlos Beltran or B.J. Upton, Bourn would be a nice fallback plan. He might be a left-handed hitter, but he is an obvious upgrade over Nate McLouth and Jordan Schafer.

Even though the calls haven't been coming in for Bourn so far, it's likely that after Beltran and Upton find new homes, the phone will start ringing as teams move on to back-up plans.

Bourn is great defensively and fits the typical lead-off hitter mold. He would be a nice addition for any contender.

5. Aramis Ramirez

The Cubs have made it clear that they plan on being sellers at the trade deadline, so it's no shock that Aramis Ramirez might be on the move.

CBSSports.com's Scott Miller says Ramirez might not be willing to move:

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The Cubs' Aramis Ramirez and the Twins' Michael Cuddyer are two of the players the Angels have discussed internally, according to sources, but neither seems likely at this point early in the week.

Ramirez so far has indicated an unwillingness to waive his blanket no-trade clause.

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Ramirez has been pretty adamant to this point that he is going to be staying in Chicago. That has been because the teams that have been rumored to be interested have been borderline contenders. If a true contender came knocking, would Ramirez be willing to listen and possibly change his mind? Maybe.

He is having a terrific season, with 18 home runs in 96 games and a .515 slugging percentage. He would be a nice upgrade for a team like the Yankees, who could slip him in at third base until Alex Rodriguez is ready and then have him split time between third and DH.

4. Hunter Pence

The Pittsburgh Pirates were reportedly dumbfounded by the asking price for Hunter Pence of the Houston Astros, but when you want somebody with as much talent as Pence, he won't come cheap.

Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review updates the situation:

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The Pirates crave a slugger to transform their punchless lineup. But with less than a week to go before the trade deadline, general manager Neal Huntington probably must shift his focus to other needs.

It's not from lack of trying. The Pirates eyed several power bats -- including Carlos Beltran, Carlos Pena and Hunter Pence -- but were stymied each time.

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Pence is having a very strong season and at just 28 years old, he should be entering the prime of his career. It seems like the Astros are setting the price extremely high, almost hoping that nobody is willing to match it.

His batting average on balls in play is likely to decline throughout the rest of the season, so the rest of his numbers will as well. The Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and Pirates have all been linked to Pence in recent weeks, but will one of them be ready to pony up the prospects to complete a deal?

3. Michael Cuddyer

Michael Cuddyer has versatility that nobody else in the trade market can match. Although he won't be pitching again anytime soon, he has logged innings at several different positions for the Twins.

Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com says San Francisco could be a possible landing spot for Cuddyer:

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SF Giants remain intrigued by Michael Cuddyer. If Twins drop out of race and sell, defending champs could be a suitor.

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So far this season, Cuddyer has played first base, second base, right field and pitcher for the Twins. He also played third base and center field last season. Pair that up with a .370 wOBA and a 136 wRC+ to illustrate his above average ability with the bat and Cuddyer is an attractive option.

Morosi is right when he says the Giants would be a good fit. The Giants continue to have the dominant pitching that carried them to a World Series triumph last season, but adding a bat like Cuddyer would move them up the list of favorites to win it again this season.

2. B.J. Upton

B.J. Upton is probably the most intriguing name on the trade market. Although he is having a down year, his all-around ability and past performance ensure the Tampa Bay Rays can ask top dollar for their center fielder.

Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com team up to offer the latest news:

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At least five teams are “in play” for Rays outfielder B.J. Upton, major-league sources told FOXSports.com.

The Indians, Giants, Braves and Pirates are among the suitors, sources say.

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The Atlanta Braves would seem like the best fit for Upton. The Braves have been very aggressive offensively this season, for better or worse, and Upton matches that mold.

He is a major upgrade over Nate McLouth and Jordan Schafer and is under team control for another season. Upton is a better fit than Beltran for Atlanta, because Beltran wants to remain primarily in right field.

Upton has 15 home runs and 23 stolen bases already in 2011, making him well on pace to go 20-20 once again. With the recent promotion of top prospect Desmond Jennings, the Rays can afford to move Upton and the Braves have a deep farm system, making a deal possible.

1. Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran is in a class by himself when it comes to offensive ability among the players available at the deadline. He is limiting his market by saying he would prefer to remain in the National League and play right field, however.

Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Giants are the frontrunners:

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The Giants look like a possible favorite for Carlos Beltran -- at the moment, anyway. Beltran prefers the National League, the Mets might prefer a division other than the National League East and, according to sources, the Giants understandably have him atop their list.

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With Beltran having his best season since 2008, his impending free agency and the Mets looking to sell, it seems highly unlikely Beltran will be wearing a Mets jersey after July 31. Beltran has a triple-slash line of .289 / .389 / .514 so far in 2011 and his knees appear to be holding up well.

The Mets might have set the initial price for Beltran a little to high, as several teams have declined offers for their top prospects, including the Braves and Giants. They will have to lower the price if they plan on moving Beltran, as the team who receives him will only be guaranteed three months of service from him.