It appears that Hunter Pence will remain with the Astros at least for the rest of the 2011 season. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the only way the Astros trade Pence is if new owner, Jim Crane, is approved before July 31 and orders such a move.

Rosenthal believes though, that the odds of Crane consenting to a trade of Pence in one of his first acts are slim, but he suggests that the team should at least consider the idea.

Although team officials see Pence as “a core player for the future”, the right fielder is getting expensive. He is making $6.9 million and he’s arbitration-eligible for two more seasons.

Rosenthal says that the Astros should rebuild around pitching, and he suggests that the Astros could try to trade Pence to the Braves for a package built around one or more of the Braves’ young pitchers.

That way they would save some money, stack up with young valuable arms and start the rebuilding process.

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