With the Rob Sims Jersey trade deadline just a few weeks away, its time to revisit the annual MLB Trade Value series that Ive been doing during the last, I dont know, four or five years. I stole the concept from Bill Simmons, who an NBA version for ESPN.com, though my version leaves out the references to teenage soap operas and films from 25 years ago. Sorry.
E sentially, the concept would be to take all the information which goes into encapsulating a players value for an organization his present skills, his future potential, how long hes under club control, the expected cost of paying him over that time, and the risks involved with projecting his future performances and figure out which players currently have probably the most trade value in baseball. The #1 guy wouldnt get traded, upright, for any other player in baseball. The #10 guy is somebody that his organization would call untouchable, but when among the nine guys above him was made available, theyd rethink that stance. You get the idea.
Over recent times, using the rece sion and the increasing intelligence of major league organizations, weve seen a significant increase in its valuation of young players. Where even a few years ago, people were applauding the Mariners decision to trade a bushel of talent for Erik Bedard, pretty much everyone now realizes that players like Adam Jones and Chris Tillman are more valuable than even established Darius Slay Jersey all-star pitchers, because of their ability to produce over multiple years for next to no salary. So, you will find likely to be some big name, high level talents that Brandon Pettigrew Jersey dont appear on their list.
Johan Santana, for instance, isnt on it, even though hes a great pitcher. Hes simply not great enough to justify giving up an elite talent to be able to pay him premium dollars. Same with Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez. Great players, but not one of the top 50 a sets in major league baseball.
So, over the in a few days, well count below #50 to #1, moving in bursts of five players. Well kick off with #50-46 tonight at 5 pm, and then do 10 players each day throughout a few days. The 5 best is going to be posted next Monday.
Making their list is hard. Theres so many good players in the game at this time, and seeking to determine who fits and who doesnt seems like a hopele s task sometimes. So, to close out the introduction, listed here are 5 guys who just mi Ian Wells Jersey sed the cut. You could po sibly make a good case for any of them being included, however for me, they were just edged by the guys above them.
Kevin Youkilis, 1B/3B, Boston 3.1 WAR
Hes turned himself into a terrific player, but hes 3 decades old and it has reached where hes getting paid significant money.
Ben Zobrist, 2B/OF, Tampa Bay 4.6 WAR
Hes through an amazing season, is really a switch-hitter, and amazingly versatile, but is that this type of power sustainable long-term, or perhaps is he a 28-year-old having a career year?
Javier Vazquez, RHP, Atlanta 4.0 WAR
Having the very Matthew Stafford Jersey best season of his career, but his ERA is still half a run greater than his FIP, continuing his maddening career tendency to do worse than his peripherals.
Gordon Beckham, 3B/SS, Chicago 0.2 WAR
A year after you have drafted, he hit his method to the majors. If I had been completely sure hed be a quality defensive shortstop long term, hed have made their email list.
Pablo Sandoval, 3B/1B/C, San Francisco 3.1 WAR
The guy once referred to as Fat Ichiro now goes by Kung Fu Panda, and while hes a strange player, he is able to really hit. But hes 22 going on 30 with this body.
