MLB Trade Rumors: Hunter Pence and 10 Big Names Who Won't Be Traded

The MLB trade deadline is just a few short days away and things are truly heating up.

We have our first monster deal on our hands as White Sox starter Edwin Jackson is headed to St. Louis— virtually moments after Chicago traded him to Toronto—in an eight-player deal involving Cardinals center fielder Colby Rasmus.

How’s that for a blockbuster?

Pretty nice, right? Are you excited for July 31 yet!?

Well, don’t expect too many more deals of this caliber.

We’ve heard rumblings of some high quality ball players being moved this summer, but nothing will likely come from any of these smoke screens. That’s all they are, smoke screens, as general managers gauge the value of their players to see if they will be overwhelmed for a deal.

We’re hearing potential faces of franchises being moved. Come on, give me a break. We hear this every year and nothing amounts.

The best you’ll get to get is Carlos Beltran and Heath Bell.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for Hunter Pence and these 10 big names rumored to be on the block.

10. Alfonso Soriano, LF, Chicago Cubs

2010 Stats: .247 BA, .446 SLG, 15 HR, 43 RBI

Alfonso Soriano may be an awful fielder and average hitter at this point in his career, but he can still slug. He has enough power to be a more than capable quality designated hitter in the American League.

The Cubs would love to get rid of Soriano clogging their lineup and payroll, but finding a suitor for his services is a major obstacle. Chicago would have to be on the hook for the majority of his remaining hefty contract.

Soriano would also have to waive his no-trade clause for any potential deal. In other words, he’ll continue to pillage the Cubs payroll unless he’s traded to a World Series contender. 

9. Derek Lowe, SP, Atlanta Braves

2010 Stats: 6-8, 4.49 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 84 K’s

Derek Lowe’s name has been running wild recently in almost every Atlanta Braves trade rumor. He is owed nearly $20 million for the next year-and-a-half, which is even more off-putting than his age and continued dip in production.

He is still a crafty veteran that teams such as Detroit or even St. Louis might covet in the middle of their rotation, but it is simply too much to take on his salary. Atlanta would have to be on the hook for most of his contract and they’re looking to shed payroll as they land an impact slugger.

Look for Atlanta to retain his services, which isn’t the worst thing as this team will need another veteran presence as they approach the postseason.

8. Wandy Rodriguez, SP, Houston Astros

2010 Stats: 6-7, 3.60 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 100 K’s

Wandy Rodriguez’ career of mediocrity in the National League should be enough to keep teams away, but it is more because of his atrocious contract and demand from the Astros’ organization.

Houston is willing to lower its demands as we head to the deadline, but they still want a nice chunk of change for this pathetic excuse of an ace.

Even worse, he is owed nearly $40 million over the next three seasons.

Excuse me while I go vomit.

He will never amount to anything more than the No. 4 or No. 5 starter in the American League. He has no business even anchoring the staff as the No. 2 starter in the NL.

Face it, Astros fans, you’re stuck with Wandy Rod, who managed to put a magic spell over your favorite franchise.

7. Josh Willingham, RF, Oakland A’s

2010 Stats: .241 BA, .428 SLG, 13 HR, 50 RBI

Willingham is one of the most underrated sluggers in the game and A’s general manager Billy Beane realizes that. He is not just looking to sell his players for cheap because his team is out of the running.

If Beane lets Willingham walk in the offseason, he will acquire draft picks, which could help the organization more in the long run than a couple of mid-level prospects.

It will obviously take more than GM's thought to land Willingham’s services, which is why he will continue to play in Oakland for the rest of the season.

It’s a real shame too, because he would provide a major boost to the lineups in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Boston.

6. Hiroki Kuroda, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

2010 Stats: 6-12, 3.19 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 97 K’s

Several teams would love to land a player of Kuroda’s caliber, especially when taking into account that he is enjoying a career season in the majors.

Still, Los Angeles’ pitching rotation is all the Dodgers can hang its hat on aside from Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

The Dodgers may be the running joke in the majors this season, but they have the potential to compete for this division next season with this fantastic rotation.

More importantly, Kuroda has a no-trade clause and can control his own destiny. It would take a major market team such as the Red Sox or Yankees to land his services, while Detroit has also been in talks with LA. While it could happen, as anything can happen at the deadline, expect Hiroki to continue building his brand in the enticing city of Los Angeles.

5. Leo Nunez, CP, Florida Marlins

2010 Stats: 0-2, 28 Saves, 3.47 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 44 K’s

The Florida Marlins are once again sellers at the deadline and are in a position of power. Plenty of teams are looking to bolster their bullpen and contenders Philadelphia and St. Louis are in need of a man with closer capabilities and experience.

Still, Florida is wise to take Nunez off the trade market. He is going to eclipse his career high in saves this season and has great strikeout potential. He has performed extremely well in pressure situations, but Florida will never find the right deal for his services as teams view him as a discount option to the coveted Heath Bell.

Make no mistake about it, Nunez has the talent to become one of the best closers in the league. He will near 40 saves this season and is under team control for at least another season, which raises his stock that much further. Nunez has stated his desire to stay in Florida and expect Nunez to stay because teams undervalue his abilities.

4. James Shields, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

2010 Stats: 9-8, 2.53 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 151 K’s

For some very odd reason, All-Star pitcher James Shields’ name surfaced in trade rumors last week.

It really isn’t that odd when you look at his overall numbers. He is enjoying a career season as he shatters his numbers and may never live up to this season again. The expectations will be even higher next year and we also have to worry about the second half of the season as pressure continues to mount.

Tampa Bay has quality pitching prospects waiting in the shadows also known as the minors, which is why they can afford to ship off Shields this summer. Still, Tampa Bay would prefer to keep a veteran on the roster, especially a late bloomer of Shields’ caliber.

It also helps that the Rays would refuse to trade him within the division, as they should, and it was believed the Yankees were the main suitors. We could still see him moved to Cincinnati or Detroit, but Tampa Bay may have already taken his name off the market as they refuse to give up on the season.

3. B.J. Upton, CF, Tampa Bay Rays

2010 Stats: .227 BA, .395 SLG, 15 HR, 53 RBI 

B.J. Upton has all of the talent in the world, but all of the manners in the family went to brother Justin. B.J. is turning into a joke around the majors as he may very well be the most disgruntled employee in the game today.

His ability to destroy his own psyche is remarkable. He hasn’t looked comfortable in the batter’s box or center field for years. He is an overrated player who desperately needs out of Tampa Bay to fulfill his potential, but it remains to be seen if the Rays will find a suitable package.

At this point, they’re overrating him and should be shipping him off to St. Louis or Washington, but that may be saved for next season. Tampa Bay is waiting for the right package instead of shipping him off while they can for a solid return. They may be too greedy this summer.

2. Hunter Pence, RF, Houston Astros

2010 Stats: .308 BA, .468 SLG, 11 HR, 62 RBI

I still don’t view Hunter Pence as the legitimate cornerstone piece to a franchise, but there is no denying his abilities on the field. He can clearly make major contributions and could easily lead a team to the World Series as even the second best player on the team.

His work in this terrible Astros lineup is just unfathomable. Seriously, 62 RBI, are you kidding me!? His production is simply surreal, which is why Houston cannot afford to ship him away unless they receive three or four legitimate prospects in return for his services.

He is fantastic in the batter’s box and somehow even better in the field with his ability to track the ball and more importantly his pinpoint accurate rocket arm.

Pence would put a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cleveland Indians over the top in their close division races, but Houston would be left without a face for its franchise. 

The Astros overvalue their players by a large margin, but it’s understandable with Pence. He is staying in Houston, folks.

1. Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Colorado Rockies

2010 Stats: 6-9, 4.20 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 116 K’s

Ubaldo Jimenez will not be moved this summer unless Colorado drastically decreases its demands for their ace, which is highly unlikely.

The Rockies are looking for a king’s ransom for Ubaldo and teams are now increasingly wary that Jimenez is at all worth the trouble.

He is a 27-year-old entering the prime of his life and comes equipped with a team-friendly contract, but he has never pitched in the American League and only has one quality season under his belt.

Even when it looks like he’s heating up with the weather to live up to his high expectations, he gets rocked to the dismay of the Rockies’ front office.

This may be a weak trade market for starting pitchers, but Jimenez may not be worth the trouble for the Yankees and Red Sox after all. He could very well get rocked in the Bronx and Beantown.

Toronto is now expected to make a push and wouldn’t it only be fitting for the Blue Jays organization if they acquired the superstar only to see him fail repeatedly?

Look for him to stay with the Rockies as teams grow increasingly concerned with his inconsistencies heading into the deadline. There’s a reason the Rockies are willing to trade away a man in the prime of his life with a great contract…