Pence is still Phillies' big target

Carlos Beltran wore a black Giants pullover, a black and orange Giants hat, and a wide smile as he sat in an interview room Thursday at Citizens Bank Park. Behind him, Phillies logos were pasted to a wall. In front of him was a new opportunity, one for which he would happily waive his no-trade clause.

"Of course, I said yes," Beltran said, "after what this organization did last year, their pitching, they're in first place, so it was an easy decision for me to make."

The Phillies were interested in Beltran, but not aggressive suitors when the New York Mets required a steep price. That's because Ruben Amaro Jr. is smitten with Hunter Pence. The Houston outfielder remains the Phillies' top target, according to a baseball source, with two days left until the non-waiver trade deadline.

The Phillies have long liked the idea of Pence, but they are not alone. With Beltran off the market, as many as six teams are in negotiations with the Astros about a possible deal, according to MLB.com. Amaro is one of the most aggressive, said the source, who has knowledge of the Phillies' thought process. The general manager intends to be a player until the very end of discussions.

That may be problematic. Houston ownership is putting heavy pressure on Astros general manager Ed Wade to not trade Pence unless the package in return is overwhelming. There were signs Thursday, however, that Houston was more inclined to deal Pence because of the increased interest. That could mean overpaying to land him.

Amaro walks a delicate line because of the timing. The source said Amaro wants to make a move, whether it's Pence or not. If negotiations drag out with Houston, the source said, Amaro could be forced to move to Plan B, like the Chicago White Sox' Carlos Quentin, San Diego's Ryan Ludwick, or Kansas City's Melky Cabrera. How long before Sunday's 4 p.m. deadline that happens is the question.

The Astros are said to be seeking four "sure-thing players," according to an ESPN.com report. It is unknown whether the team would offer Domonic Brown in a package for Pence, but the team has not ruled it out.

Pence is not without faults. His strikeouts are up. His walk rate is painfully low. He has two fewer home runs than Raul Ibanez. His batting average on balls in play is a staggering .367, which means luck has greatly contributed to a .307 batting average.

But the Phillies are willing to part with more for Pence than Beltran because the 28-year-old outfielder has two years of arbitration remaining. (He is making $6.9 million in 2011 and is due a significant raise.)

Beltran is a free agent at season's end, and that weighed heavily in the Phillies' decision not to pursue him. The source said Phillies president David Montgomery would not sign off on dealing a top prospect, as the Giants did, for a rental player. That has been the Phillies' strategy in previous summers.

San Francisco traded righthander Zack Wheeler, ranked as Baseball America's 35th-best prospect and the team's top young pitcher, for Beltran. The Phillies' equivalent is Jarred Cosart, who would probably be included in any package for Pence.