mlb trade value: a ray is number one

Dave Cameron over at fangraphs.com just did a phenomenal job ranking the Top 50 major league baseball players in terms of trade value. Evan Longoria took the top spot, and anyone who has seen him play (and checks out the contract he signed just over a month ago) would be hard-pressed to argue for him to be placed anywhere outside of the Top 3.

The way Dave handles this ranking exercise is much the same way Bill Simmons does his annual piece on ESPN.com for the NBA. As you move down the list, you must ask yourself “would you trade him, straight up, for any of the players listed ahead of him?” He takes into account the player’s ability, projectability of skills, age, and contract.

It’s a great piece and very well done. See players #11-50 here: MLB Trade Value ‘08: #11-#50 Recap.

Dave just finished his Top 10, which is as follows:

10. Troy Tulowitzki

9. Tim Lincecum

8. Felix Hernandez

7. Chase Utley

6. Brian McCann

5. Albert Pujols

4. David Wright

3. Grady Sizmore

2. Hanley Ramirez

1. Evan Longoria

Highly suggest you head over to fangraphs.com to check out the rest of the Top 50 and read through all the analysis. Very well done.