MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Best Hitters Who Could Still Be Available

The big trading day in Major League Baseball has come and gone. The non-waiver trade deadline expired at 4pm EST on July 31. But by no means does that mean teams are done dealing in 2011.

We've already seen a number of deals completed here in August. Just last week, outfielder Delmon Young was traded across the field from the Minnesota Twins to the Detroit Tigers. Young has already paid dividends to the Tigers, going 5-13 with a home run against his now former employer.

And just this week, the Toronto Blue Jays sent second baseman Aaron Hill and infielder John McDonald to the Arizona Diamondbacks, in exchange for second baseman Kelly Johnson.

Over history, plenty of key offensive players switched ball clubs, typically going from one team who is trying to rebuild to one that is contending for postseason play. Last year, the Houston Astros dealt Lance Berkman to the Yankees, giving them an offensive boost for their stretch run.

In 1992, the A's made one of the bigger waiver-period trades of all time. In an attempt to bolster their pitching staff, they sent slugger Jose Canseco to the Texas Rangers for DH Ruben Sierra, and pitchers Jeff Russell and Bobby Witt.

In order for players to be eligible for the postseason, they must be on their teams' active roster as of midnight EST on August 31. That gives teams one week to conduct any last-hope deals before the stretch run. Here are some hitters that potentially could be had, assuming they clear waivers.

Hideki Matsui

As MLBTradeRumors.com reports, Hideki Matsui has cleared waivers, meaning he can be traded to any team, at any time. And with the way "Godzilla" has been swinging the bat during the second half of the season, he could be a valuable asset to any team in need of an offensive improvement.

Entering play on Tuesday, Matsui is batting .372 in the second half and is slugging at a .543 clip. He's a free agent at the end of the season, making him an attractive target for contending teams looking for a player rental to get through the postseason.

Angel Pagan

After years of expectations and potential, and sub-par results, Angel Pagan put together a career-year for the New York Mets in 2010. Last season, the 30-year-old outfielder stole 37 bases, while collecting 11 home runs and 69 RBI.

However, Pagan has taken a step backward this year, having only seven home runs and 46 RBI through 94 games in 2011. He did miss about a month with stress fracture in his ribs.

He has gotten hot lately, evidenced by his .368 batting average in August (entering play on Wednesday). He is a potential non-tender candidate this offseason, making him a possible trade target with about a week left until the end of the month.

Pagan can be a very serviceable outfielder for a team like the Diamondbacks in need of some outfield help. 

Franklin Gutierrez

In 2009, Franklin Gutierrez gave the Seattle Mariners a fine season. He smacked 18 home runs, while batting at a .283 clip.

But the last two seasons have been a regression for the 28-year-old outfielder. He missed the first month-and-a-half of 2011 with a stomach problem, and has just not gotten on track. He has just one home run on the season, and has been relegated to pretty much a fourth outfielder for the M's.

After his breakout 2009 campaign, Gutierrez signed a four-year, $20.25 million deal with Seattle. He is due to earn $12.5 million between 2012-2013 (his contract also includes a $7.5 million club option for 2014). 

So, it's conceivable to think that the Mariners would not have a problem trying to deal him to another club and get his contract off the books. 

Jim Thome

It's not every day a player hits his 600th career home run. It's even more rare to have that player get traded within two weeks of reaching that magical milestone. But this could be the case for Twins' designated hitter Jim Thome.

Thome launched his 600th career long ball to the left-centerfield bleachers of Comerica Park in Detroit last Monday (he has since hit his 601st). But with the Twins becoming more and more buried in the AL Central, they may look to deal the left-handed slugger to a contending team in exchange for some farm or monetary help.

The Twins placed Thome on waivers on Monday, and the Philadelphia Phillies have reported interest in a reunion with their former slugger. Thome could provide the Phils with a left-handed power bat off the bench—similar to the role he played in 2009 for the Los Angeles Dodgers (though, in theory with more power than the zero home runs he put up in 17 games with the Dodgers).

If dealt, Thome would become just the second player in history (Willie Mays) to be traded after hitting his 600th career home run. There would also likely be riots in the streets of Minneapolis.

Alfonso Soriano

It's been no secret that the Chicago Cubs have been trying to get Alfonso Soriano and his enormous contract off the books. And with a new general manager at the helm for the North Siders, perhaps a trade is not so far off—especially since Soriano has cleared waivers.

Soriano will be difficult for the Cubs to deal. He is owed over $58 million through 2014. He has not performed up to expectations after signing an eight-year, $136 million contract in 2007. And, he has a full no-trade clause built into his contract.

Since that blockbuster contract, Soriano has hit a combined .266 with 125 home runs. Not shabby numbers, but also not $136 million numbers either. Perhaps a change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered for the 35-year-old outfielder.

Johnny Damon

Johnny Damon is enjoying another successful season during his long playing career. In 2011, for the Tampa Rays, Damon has 11 home runs, and is batting at a .268 clip. 

The Rays are hanging on in the Wild Card race, currently sitting 7.5 games out of first place behind the Rangers and Red Sox. So, with playoff hopes dwindling away, trading the free agent-to-be could make sense for the Rays.

Damon, who has cleared waivers, has plenty of postseason experience, and could benefit a team needing some clubhouse leadership.

Carlos Lee

Like Soriano, Carlos Lee has a hefty amount of money remaining on his contract ($22 million through 2012 to be exact). Unlike Soriano, however, "El Caballo" has hit well since signing his mega-deal with the Houston Astros in 2007 (six years, $100 million).

This year has been a bit of a struggle for the big first baseman. Through 122 games in 2011, Lee is hitting just .261 with 11 home runs. 

His 10-and-5 rights will kick in next year, so if the Astros wish to trade him, this would be the time to do it without having to seek his approval. 

Carlos Pena

Carlos Pena could be another Chicago Cub to be dealt this waiver period. Pena, signed to a one-year deal, was placed on waivers on Monday and doesn't appear to be a part of the Cubs' future plans.

With two marquee first basemen set to hit free agency at season's end (Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols), the Cubs would need to have first base unoccupied. 

Pena is having one of his typical high-power, low-average seasons, with his 23 home runs and .223 batting average. He also ranks fifth in the National League in strikeouts (after finishing third in that category in the American League last year). 

But the Cleveland Indians could be losing DH Travis Hafner for the rest of the season. Perhaps they could alleviate the loss of power by adding Pena's bat to the fold for their playoff run.

Jason Kubel

Jason Kubel would be a great pick-up for a contending team. Like Thome, Kubel was placed on waivers by the Twins on Monday. The left-handed hitter is having a down year in the power department—just nine home runs after blasting 21 a season ago.

But his .293 average is still very adequate, and his versatility and veteran leadership skills are an added asset. He'll be a free agent at the end of the 2011 season, and currently profiles as a Type B free agent (meaning a team would receive draft compensation if he declines an arbitration offer). That alone could be a big lure for teams to acquire the 29-year-old. 

Jason Bay

You can add Jason Bay to the list of big-time contracts and big-time flops. Prior to the 2010 season, the New York Mets inked the outfielder to a four-year, $66 million contract. But so far, almost two full seasons into that deal, Bay has provided the Mets with a total of 15 home runs and 90 RBI (after hitting 36 with 119 with the Red Sox in '09).

Part of the struggles for Bay can be linked to post-concussion syndrome that caused him to miss the entire second half of the 2010 season.

Still, the Bay had fully recovered coming into 2011, and the expectations were that he would rebound into his 2009 form. But he missed the team's first 18 games of the season with an oblique injury, and despite some small offensive surges, he has really struggled wearing a Mets uniform.

GM Sandy Alderson may not be so quick to give up on the 32-year-old, but if some team were to offer to pick up some of the $38 million-plus owed to Bay through 2013, he may not be as reluctant to trade him.