It’s never too early to look ahead to the trading deadline, the time of the season that the good teams gear up for the stretch-run and the other teams look to stockpile prospects and unload salary. Even in the early part of the baseball season, it’s clear that some prominent players could be available come the trade deadline. Here are some of the most noteworthy:

Hanley Ramirez, shortstop, Florida Marlins. After signing a huge six-year deal with the Marlins in 2008, he has done nothing but produce on the field. Last season, in a less than formidable lineup, Ramirez hit .342, belted 24 homeruns and drove in 106 RBIs. He also stole 27 bases, which was only down from his previous totals because he slid from first in to third in the lineup starting in 2008. Ramirez is a transcendent talent that the Marlins simply will not want to keep if they remain out of playoff contention this season and can Kamagra Soft help any team sell MLB tickets.

Teams that will definitely be looking to acquire his services would be the Boston Red Sox, who traded him to the Marlins for Josh Beckett, and potentially other teams with sizeable payrolls like the Seattle Mariners, L.A. Levitra Angels and L.A. Dodgers. The two New York teams already have their shortstops and it’s hard to imagine many other teams stepping up to take on his large contract. What is clear, however, is that if the Marlins trade him, he will be one of the most sought-after players in recent memory.

Adrian Gonzalez, first base, San Diego Padres. Even in one of the toughest places to be a power hitter, Petco Park, Gonzalez has established himself as a big-time masher. Last season, on one of the worst offenses in baseball, Gonzalez mashed 40 homeruns and had a very impressive OPS of .958. With that type of power, he can be an anchor in just about any lineup. His contract ends after this season with a club option for 2011, so it’s very likely that the Padres will look to deal him at the deadline. Plenty of teams will be lining up to throw prospects at the Padres if they shop Gonzalez.

Roy Oswalt, starting pitcher, Houston Astros. On one of the worst teams in the league, Oswalt has little value yet has a very big contract. Oswalt is earning $15 million this year and is set to make $16 million next season, which is simply too much money for a team that doesn’t appear close to being in contention. Though he may not be the same pitcher that he was early in his career, Oswalt is still only 32 and has plenty left in the tank for future years. He had his worst season in his career in 2009, but even with a myriad of nagging injuries, his 4.12 ERA still wasn’t as bad as it could have been. If he can find the zone again during the early portion of the 2010 season, suitors with their eyes on the World Series will line up to have Oswalt bolster their rotation.

Carlos Lee, outfield, Houston Astros. Along with Oswalt, the Astros are also paying too much for Carlos Lee. Lee is getting paid $19 million for this year and the Astros won’t be able to do much with their franchise until they ship him out. Though he struggled at times last season, Lee still batted .300, hit 26 homeruns and drove in 102 runs, the fourth consecutive year he has knocked in 100. It’s possible that a team with deep pockets could even look to bring in Oswalt and Lee as a package deal. Putting Lee in the middle of a solid lineup would increase his production and he is still capable of carrying a team offensively for stretches. Look for Lee to be a hot commodity as well if the Astros are willing to continue to pay some of his contract after the trade.

Cliff Lee, starting pitcher, Seattle Mariners. The Mariners may or may not be in the playoff hunt, which will determine whether they will look to beef up for their playoff run or ship some of their valuable assets. With Lee set to be a free agent in 2011, the Mariners will have to consider shipping him if they don’t feel they are close enough to make a run at the division. After proving last season that he can pitch very well in pressure postseason appearances, plenty of teams will be calling about Lee.

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