The consensus as we approach the trading deadline is that the Houston Astros’ Hunter Pence is going to be traded, and the leading candidate is the Phillies. Friday morning, SI.com’s Jon Heyman tweets that the Phillies might have to up their ante to get Pence:

There’s a sense out there that if #phillies sub domonic brown for singleton and include cosart they might land pence. #tradedeadline

Yesterday, it was reported in this StoryStream that the Phillies would not include Domonic Brown in any Pence deal, and indeed, that would seem to be somewhat self-defeating; Pence may have more major league experience than Brown, but Brown is only 23 and still has considerable upside. So if that’s the holdup, there may be another suitor for Pence:

Sources: #Reds on #Astros’ Bourn as well as Pence. Bourn FA after ‘12, Pence after ’13. Pence is #Phillies’ to lose.

The Reds may be rapidly falling out of contention after being swept by the Mets this week; they trail three other teams in the NL Central and are 6.5 games out of first place. But if they are also interested in Pence, the price could be driven up for the Phillies, or indeed any other team in the hunt for outfield help.