Ask The Professor: Trading Mike Trout? Really?!

@Rotoprofessor Dynasty league – Trout or Benintendi, Devers and Happ?

— Mark Vogel (@mvogel4949) May 23, 2017

Rotoprofessor’s Response:
Trading Trout, who is the elite player in the sport, is never going to be an easy sell. However that doesn’t make him untradeable, and for a rebuilding team this type of return would be extremely hard to pass up. While there always is uncertainty in trading for youth, the fact that you are acquiring three players who are Top 20 prospects is enticing. The fact that none of them are pitchers, who tend to carry a little more risk (especially in regards to injury), further adds to the appeal.

Andrew Benintendi – You can argue that he’s “underperformed” in ’17, but he’s a 22-year old who is hitting .280 with 5 HR and 5 SB while showing a tremendous approach at the plate (6.3% SwStr%, 26.8% O-Swing%). He’s only going to get better, and has 20/20 written all over him.

Rafael Devers – One of the premier prospects in the game, could he follow the lead of Benintendi and make the jump directly from Double-A? It wouldn’t be surprising, given the team’s void at 3B, and he has the potential to be a Top 10 option (maybe even Top 5) at a deep position almost immediately. How many 20-year olds can maintain an 18.1% strikeout rate and 10.4% walk rate at Double-A?

Ian Happ – There was always a question as to where he would play, but he’s already arrived and is forcing Chicago to find a spot for him instead of returning him to the minors. The strikeouts are a bit of a concern (27.3%, though it’s a small sample size) and it’s likely there is a stumble at some point, but he can play all across the diamond and has proven he is a 15/15 player now (with the potential to be a 20/25 HR threat).

Sure you aren’t getting a Trout back in the deal, but that’s impossible to do. Instead you are getting three players who all may be Top 25 options as soon as 2018 (and should certainly be Top 75 players next season).

I can see both sides of this deal.  Trading Trout is never easy, but this type of return is one you could regret not taking two years from now.  It’s certainly an interesting debate, given the upside of the package.  Maybe you prefer to target younger players with more experience, but this return would be highly enticing.

With that in mind, let’s hear what you have to say.  If you were a Trout owner would you accept the deal?  Let’s hear your thoughts!