MLB Trade Rumors: 5 Potential Interleague Blockbusters at the Deadline

Carlos Beltran, Colby Rasmus and Edwin Jackson all found new homes yesterday, a signal that the deadline maneuvering is officially underway. Rumors continue to swirl about other impact performers such as Hunter Pence, B.J. Upton and Ubaldo Jimenez with the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline just three days away.

Much is made in the media about trading players within your league and the possible impact that it could have on your own team's future. Teams frequently try to trade their valued pieces to the opposite league— especially those players with years left on their contracts—with the hope that the player doesn't come back to hurt them in the future.

Although the merits and importance of this practice can be debated, many general managers are firm believers in it. So, it is no surprise to see the Colorado Rockies hoping to move Ubaldo Jimenez to an American League contender. The same goes for B.J. Upton and the Tampa Bay Rays.

With that in mind, here are the most recent rumors about possible interleague trades that could be completed before the trade deadline.

Carlos Quentin to the Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies were one of the major players in the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes, but lost out to the San Francisco Giants. They have now turned their attention to Chicago White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin.

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal passed along the news and kept it pithy.

                   Source: "Phillies interested in White Sox's Quentin"

Quentin has a triple-slash line of .265 / .356 / .516 so far this season and has clubbed 20 home runs in the process. He is a prototypical power hitter, although he hasn't been able to match his total of 36 from his breakout 2008 campaign. His defense has been a problem over the past few seasons, but with the pitching the Phillies have they would be able to survive that deficiency.

By bringing in a big bat like Quentin, the Phillies would be able to relieve some of the pressure on Ryan Howard. Howard is on pace to have the worst season of his career and hasn't carried the offense like he has in the past. It is unclear whether Quentin would take playing time from Raul Ibanez or Dominic Brown, but in either case it would be an upgrade.

Hiroki Kuroda to the New York Yankees

The New York Yankees' pitching staff has outperformed expectations in 2011, but that doesn't mean they aren't attempting to make an upgrade at the deadline. Hiroki Kuroda seems like the most likely target for the Bronx Bombers right now.

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com say the Yankees aren't alone:

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The market for Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda is growing. The question of which teams he would approve for a trade—if any—remains unclear.

The Yankees have intensified their pursuit of Kuroda, according to major league sources, and the Red Sox also are in the mix along with the Rangers, Indians and Tigers.

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Kuroda is one of the few success stories when it comes to Japanese pitchers and their transition to Major League Baseball. Ignore his below .500 career record because wins have nothing to do with a pitcher's overall ability—it is dependent on the offense around him. Kuroda is remarkably consistent. In his four seasons with the Dodgers, Kuroda has had an ERA, FIP and xFIP less than four every time.

In 2011, Kuroda has a career-best 3.17 ERA, but his FIP and xFIP suggest that he has simply been a little luckier this season. A worrisome note for the Yankees, however, is Kuroda's career-low 43 percent ground ball rate. Heading into Yankee Stadium, that many fly balls could become a problem. That said, he is a definite upgrade over A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes or Ivan Nova.

Ubaldo Jimenez to the Boston Red Sox

Much like their hated rivals from New York, the Boston Red Sox are looking for a boost to their rotation before the trade deadline. The Colorado Rockies were adamant a few weeks ago that Jimenez wasn't going to be moved, but they seem to have changed their minds in recent days.

ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes posted a message about the rumors:

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Sox still in on Ubaldo Jimenez, one of five teams in on Kuroda as need for pitching becomes more pronounced, with Buchholz pushed back.

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Jimenez clearly isn't the dominant ace people remember from the start of the 2010 season, but he is still a very reliable arm. His fastball velocity has dropped nearly three mph in 2011, but it is still a plus pitch and his changeup is still effective as well. Jimenez's ERA is 4.20, but his 3.48 FIP and 3.49 xFIP suggest he is due for improvement.

Josh Beckett and Jon Lester are a dynamic one-two punch, but after that there are a lot of question marks for the Red Sox. Jimenez would be one answer and when Buchholz finally makes his return Boston would have a very capable four-man rotation heading into the playoffs. If they have to rely on pitchers like John Lackey, Tim Wakefield or Andrew Miller, however, they will be in major trouble.

Denard Span to the Washington Nationals

Don't look now, but the Washington Nationals are just a few seasons from becoming legitimate contenders in the National League East. They have set their sights on Denard Span of the Minnesota Twins and seem to be progressing towards completing a deal.

The hard-working Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com has some details:

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Sources: "Nationals continuing to target Twins' Span" and "Nats' Storen may be in play"

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Despite the fact a deal with a base of Span for Drew Storen wouldn't resonate nationally, it would actually be a pretty major trade. Span is the ideal lead-off hitter, with speed and a .361 on-base percentage and is superb in the field. He is coming off a concussion, but hasn't had many setbacks and appears to be closing in on a return to the lineup.

Drew Storen is one of the game's best young relievers. So far this season he has racked up 25 saves while sporting a 2.37 ERA. He has shaved more than a walk per game off his 2010 totals, illustrating the improved command necessary in the late innings of a ball game.

The Twins are in desperate need of bullpen help, so getting Storen would provide one piece that should be around for a long time.

B.J. Upton to the Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves have been rumored to have interest in just about every available outfielder, but have yet to complete a deal. B.J. Upton would be an upgrade over Jordan Schafer and Nate McLouth and might be a perfect fit for the team.

Marc Topkin of St. Petersburg Times says don't believe the rumors:

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Am hearing Rays do NOT have a deal in place for Upton, as of now anyway.

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Upton is having a down season—he has a battling line of .227 / .307 / .395—but some of that has been due to unusual bad luck. His .270 batting average on balls in play is 56 points below his career mark, meaning he should see a boost over the last few months. Although he isn't an all-world defender, he is better than the incumbent, McLouth.

The issue with Upton is the price. The team that acquires him will be paying for his high ceiling, which is about 20 home runs and 40 stolen bases with a .350 wOBA. They won't be paying based on his low production this season.

The Braves have a very deep farm system, so there is no shortage of options to get a deal done. But are the Braves willing to move a top prospect for just over a season of Upton and hope he produces are a high level? Only time will tell.