"With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline looming, this is the season for rumors and speculation.

Astros general manager Ed Wade has made it clear he'd be willing to entertain trade discussions with anybody and everybody.

With teams such as Philadelphia and Atlanta coveting a righthanded-hitting outfielder and Boston, San Francisco, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Detroit seeking outfield upgrades in general, All-Star right fielder Hunter Pence is becoming an increasingly popular topic of conversation.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported, through Twitter, that the Astros have shown a willingness to trade Pence and that rival executives expect it to happen. One team with the prospects to make a deal happen, Olney speculated, is Atlanta."