Just for fun: You be the GM...

[bigfunguy]

Angels offer Trout for Votto straight up...yay or nay?

[westofyou]

That's an easy yes.

Pujol's and Trout for Votto and Hamilton

You do that?

I don't

[bigfunguy]

That's an easy yes.

Pujol's and Trout for Votto and Hamilton

You do that?

I don't

Easier Yes in my opinion--2 established stars for 1 and a prospect yet to prove he can hit Major League pitching.

[_Sir_Charles_]

That's an easy yes.

Pujol's and Trout for Votto and Hamilton

You do that?

I don't

Surprising. I've seen too many rookies start off well only to tank afterwards. No way I do Votto for Trout straight up.

[RedsManRick]

Surprising. I've seen too many rookies start off well only to tank afterwards. No way I do Votto for Trout straight up.

Let's not treat Trout like he just had a good year. He had one of the all-time great seasons in MLB history. Not exactly Bob Hamelin territory.

Here's the list of 5 WAR seasons for players age 20 and younger:

                                                                                             
Rk           Player WAR/pos Year Age  Tm  PA   R HR RBI  BB  SO SB   BA  OBP  SLG   OPS   Pos
1        Mike Trout    10.7 2012  20 LAA 639 129 30  83  67 139 49 .326 .399 .564  .963 *87/9
2    Alex Rodriguez     9.2 1996  20 SEA 677 141 36 123  59 104 15 .358 .414 .631 1.045    *6
3         Al Kaline     8.0 1955  20 DET 681 121 27 102  82  57  6 .340 .421 .546  .967    *9
4           Mel Ott     7.3 1929  20 NYG 675 138 42 151 113  38  6 .328 .449 .635 1.084 *9/84
5      Ted Williams     6.6 1939  20 BOS 675 131 31 145 107  64  2 .327 .436 .609 1.045    *9
6           Ty Cobb     6.6 1907  20 DET 642  97  5 119  24  54 53 .350 .380 .468  .848    *9
7     Jason Heyward     6.3 2010  20 ATL 623  83 18  72  91 128 11 .277 .393 .456  .849    *9
8       Vada Pinson     6.3 1959  20 CIN 706 131 20  84  55  98 21 .316 .371 .509  .880    *8
9     Mickey Mantle     6.3 1952  20 NYY 626  94 23  87  75 111  4 .311 .394 .530  .924 *89/5
10   Frank Robinson     6.2 1956  20 CIN 667 122 38  83  64  95  8 .290 .379 .558  .936  *7/8
11     Bryce Harper     5.0 2012  19 WSN 597  98 22  59  56 120 18 .270 .340 .477  .817 *89/7
12      Ken Griffey     5.0 1990  20 SEA 666  91 22  80  63  81 16 .300 .366 .481  .847  *8/D

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/7/2013.

Everybody on the list is either an active player, in the HOF, will be in HOF or named Vada Pinson.

[RedsBaron]

That's an easy yes.

Pujol's and Trout for Votto and Hamilton

You do that?

I don't

When I first read that I thought, "what is WOY doing? The Reds traded away Josh Hamilton years ago and the Angels already have him."

Oh, Billy Hamilton!
I would make that trade much more easily than I would Votto for Trout straight up. While Votto is now the better first baseman than Pujols, even in his decline part of his career Albert is probably 90% of Joey, so I haven't lost that much at first base. Meanwhile, the comparison between the two centerfielders isn't close IMO. We don't know if Hamilton can hit MLB pitching. I would be thrilled if Hamilton turns into a .300 hitter and steals 80+ bases a season, but if he does that, he still will not be as valuable as Trout was in 2012 (no way does Hamilton project to ever hit close to 30 HRs a season). Trout is younger than Hamilton as well.

[Salukifan2]

Angels offer Trout for Votto straight up...yay or nay?

3 years from now id do it in a heartbeat. But right now, Votto makes the reds better than trout does.

[klw]

I would do the original trade it Ludwick can play 1b. The Reds would have about 5 years of control on Trout so even if he leaves it would be at about the time the production from Votto would be expected to have peaked. The Reds could throw Trout in CF, move Choo to LF and shift Ludwick to 1b. If Choo departs it would appear reasonably likely that a decent LF or 1b bat could be obtained at a reasonable price. If Ludwick an't do 1st base though it could derail this year. 4 OF's but no 1st base and no where to slide in BHAM.

Actually now that I think about it I don't think that I would do the trade. Too much risk for level of potential of upgrade.

[UPRedsFan]

That would be a no for me.

Votto helps more now than Trout would. It's a guess that Votto's numbers might decline in 5 years when you lose control of Trout. What's the guarantee that Trouts numbers won't decline as well. He's had one amazing season. Will Trout stay healthy running around the outfield and stealing all those bases? Does he have the work ethic that Votto has?

Plus Votto's intangibles are outstanding. Work ethic, intelligence, marketing draw for the franchise - he's the face of MLB! Not sure I could be convinced to trade Votto for anyone in baseball right now.

[Will M]

Trout makes near minimum in 2013 & 2014 then has 3 years of arbitration eligibility. easy yes.

[Kc61]

Trout makes near minimum in 2013 & 2014 then has 3 years of arbitration eligibility. easy yes.

This is the argument for Votto, not the argument for Trout.

Votto's long term committment to the Reds would sway me to keep him, nix the trade.

As long as Joey truly is healthy and his knee is projected to remain healthy.

[joshua]

Nope. Votto is worth more to Cincinnati than just his numbers.

[MikeThierry]

I'm not understanding the sentiment where Votto helps you more now than Trout. I think Votto is the best pure hitter in baseball. However Trout does more. Granted, I think Votto is vastly underrated league wide on his defense but I'll always take a stud defensive center fielder over a stud defensive first baseman if the offensive numbers are equal. Now, all this is dependent on if Trout can give the team he plays for close to the type of production he had last year.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I'm not understanding the sentiment where Votto helps you more now than Trout. I think Votto is the best pure hitter in baseball. However Trout does more. Granted, I think Votto is vastly underrated league wide on his defense but I'll always take a stud defensive center fielder over a stud defensive first baseman if the offensive numbers are equal. Now, all this is dependent on if Trout can give the team he plays for close to the type of production he had last year.

And that's the big unknown. And the reason I don't do that trade. He needs to be more established before I pull that trigger.

[Salukifan2]

Nope. Votto is worth more to Cincinnati than just his numbers.

agree