Who would you trade Braun for straight up

[Hate those Rodents]

I know we all love the guy and he's the most valuable player on our team (for those under contract). He's also signed longterm to a modest salary. That said, I want to hear who people would trade him for in a 1 for 1 trade. Are there any posters that would not trade him for anybody? Can anyone come up with a list in the double digits? I just am interested to see people's perspectives on just how much Braun is valued here and loved here.

[eanelson4]

Tim Lincecum is one name that comes to mind for me. The key would be to get a young player that is cheap, but extremely talented. I don't even know if Braun for Lincecum is even because Braun will prove to be MUCH more affordable over the next 7 years.

 

Evan Longoria is another name that comes to mind, but based on their respective performances this year in the post-season, that might be over-valuing Braun a touch.

[pitchleague]

you might be able to convince me to trade Braun for David Wright. Maybe.

[nate82]

Felix Hernandez, Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, David Price, and Evan Longoria. Billingsley and Kershaw I wouldn't trade Braun straight up for one of them it would have to be both but that maybe me over valuing Braun here.

[endaround]

Albert Pujols

Hanley Ramirez

David Wright

Jose Reyes

Grady Sizemore

Joe Mauer

Ian Kinsler

Brian McCann

Nick Markakis

Dustin Pedroia (close)

Evan Longoria

 

Felix Hernandez

Time Lincecum

John Danks (close)

Chad Billingsly

In general more leery of ptichers

[RightFieldCoder]

A-Rod would certainly end our 3B woahs, but the Yankees would need to add a ton of cash. I'm not sure if that matches your "straight up" limitations.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Hank Aaron or Willie Mays?

[JohnBriggs12]

The only 2 I would trade Braun for are Longoria and Hanley Ramirez.

 

Pujols, Utley, Wright, Morneau and Mauer are all superior players at least right now, but Braun's contract is 2-4 years longer than any of those guys and 7 years of Braun are worth more than 5 years of Wright or 3 years of Pujols.. The other guys endaround lists are very good and might be the equal of Braun, but they are not clearly superior in my book.

 

I wouldn't deal him for any pitcher. It's impossible to know now what pitcher will be healthy and strong 5 years from now much less 7.

[BREWCREW5]

I dont really understand why people would trade Braun for Longoria? Is it because of their respective positions?

 

Braun's first year and Longoria's first years had almost the same AB's and Braun was far above what Longoria did in his first season. Longoria is good, but I dont think he will be or is as good as Braun. I could be biased though!

[Ennder]

Albert Pujols

Hanley Ramirez

David Wright

Jose Reyes

Grady Sizemore

Joe Mauer

Ian Kinsler

Brian McCann

Nick Markakis

Dustin Pedroia (close)

Evan Longoria

 

Felix Hernandez

Time Lincecum

John Danks (close)

Chad Billingsly

In general more leery of ptichers

Not a terrible list though I wouldn't trade him for any of those pitchers. Too much injury risk in Felix, I hate how much the Giants abused Tim last year. Danks won't repeat last year again imo and Billingsly has had too many control problems in his career.

 

I can't answer the question very well in general because of the money side of things, I'd have to spend more time researching contracts than I'd care to~

[twobrewers]

I dont really understand why people would trade Braun for Longoria? Is it because of their respective positions?

Yes.

 

Longoria is an offensive force similar to Braun. But Longoria is a great 3B. Braun is a good OF. You can certainly argue that Braun had a vastly superior rookie season - but he had a ridiculous BABIP.

[BrewCrewForever]

Hank Aaron or Willie Mays?

Ha, that is what I first thought of.

 

For real though the only guys I would take for Braun would be A-Rod, Evan Longoria and maybe David Wright. But honestly I wouldn't even think of trading Braun.

[eanelson4]

I dont really understand why people would trade Braun for Longoria? Is it because of their respective positions?

 

Braun's first year and Longoria's first years had almost the same AB's and Braun was far above what Longoria did in his first season. Longoria is good, but I dont think he will be or is as good as Braun. I could be biased though!

Have you been watching the post-season? Longoria is absolutely kiling the Red Sox. We'll see what he does against the Phillies in the W.S. so we can do an apples-to-apples comparison w/ Braun, but if he keeps this up, he will be a vastly superior player in the post-season while being similar in the regular season.

[ILuvDaBush]

King Felix. Pujols. Wright. Sizemore. Longoria. Papelbon (and immediately convert him to starter). And maybe Kershaw or Hamilton.

[BREWCREW5]

Have you been watching the post-season? Longoria is absolutely kiling the Red Sox. We'll see what he does against the Phillies in the W.S. so we can do an apples-to-apples comparison w/ Braun, but if he keeps this up, he will be a vastly superior player in the post-season while being similar in the regular season.

 

 

That to me just doesnt factor in due to the incredibly small sample size. I would be willing to bet that Longoria has a sophmore slump much greater than Braun's (if Braun had one).

[paulmolitor4]

Nobody. Not with his contract.

[eanelson4]

Have you been watching the post-season? Longoria is absolutely kiling the Red Sox. We'll see what he does against the Phillies in the W.S. so we can do an apples-to-apples comparison w/ Braun, but if he keeps this up, he will be a vastly superior player in the post-season while being similar in the regular season.

 

 

That to me just doesnt factor in due to the incredibly small sample size. I would be willing to bet that Longoria has a sophmore slump much greater than Braun's (if Braun had one).

I'm not sure if there is a reasonable way to quantify that, but I would take that bet.

[paulmolitor4]

I agree postseason is a pretty minor consideration when evaluating a player. Buddy Biancalana anyone? Braun's rookie year was significantly better than Longoria's, and we will see how Longoria's sophomore season goes. I think ultimately they are similar talents.

[joepepsi]

David Wright and Albert Pujols.

 

Pujols is signed for 3 more years at $16 million. That's affordable. He is much better than Ryan Braun. I doubt Braun will ever match a season like Injured Albert just had. Pujols is only 3-1/2 years older.

 

Wright is signed through 2012 with an option for 2013. So his contract is similar to Braun's. Wright is only a year older, a great 3B, drew 52 more walks this year; I think he's the better player.

 

Once Braun starts drawing 80-90 walks a year I wouoldn't trade him for nobody. If he continues to walk less the 50 times a season his career may not last the length of his contract.

[brwrsfan]

Have you been watching the post-season? Longoria is absolutely kiling the Red Sox. We'll see what he does against the Phillies in the W.S. so we can do an apples-to-apples comparison w/ Braun, but if he keeps this up, he will be a vastly superior player in the post-season while being similar in the regular season.

There's also the fact that Braun was most likely still injured during our series, so it's not really an ample comparison. It's also an incredibly small sample size.

[jjfanec]

Longoria struck out once every four plate appearances this year which a lot higher than Braun did this year but just a little higher than what Braun did as a rookie. Bruan's OPS was higher both years although this year it was really close. It comes down to whether Longoria's numbers stay the same next year or if he slumps a little or gets better. A lot of guys seem to slump, and Braun's numbers did go down, but his "slumping" numbers were the same as Longoria. Both guys were hurt this year so I dont know home much injuries factor in. Braun tried to play through his injury which did affect his swing. Both plays were good in the post season, but Longoria's numbers have been better. But the playoffs in baseball are such a small sample, I don't know how much you can factor them in. I mean AROD is still the best or one of the best players in baseball even though his postseason numbers have been bad.

All that said I would rather have Braun than Longoria because he has put up numbers over on more season. Now if next year Longoria puts up really good numbers again then I might have to change my mind, but if he pulls a Troy Tulo (who was bad before the injury) than I will be happy to have not traded for him.

[Ennder]

The post season is a small sample but it should at the very least be added into the regular season to get total numbers.

 

I'd have to see Longoria do it again next year to be sure of doing that trade though. Longoria is a better overall player, more patient at the plate, better fielder. But Braun might be more talented.

[Weirdos19]

If there's anybody on the Rays I'd want it's Upton. He walked over 90 times this year and plays a decent center field, considering he was just moved there. Fast as lightning too.

 

Here's my list:

1. Hanley Ramirez

2. BJ Upton

3. Chad Billingsley

4. Matt Garza

5. Evan Longoria

6. Jon Lester

7. Tim Lincecum

8. Cole Hamels

9. Jose Reyes

 

That's it. All are players that are young and cheap. Why would we trade Braun for a guy that has a contract that's 10+mil per season?

[jjfanec]

Ramirez just for over 10 million a year so he is young but not cheap.

There is no way I would trade Braun for Garza or Lester. Garza's numbers really are not that great, at least not good enough for Braun and the same goes for Lester.

Billingsley is a great strike out guy but I still would not trade him for Braun. Lincecum is really the only young pitcher I would trade for Braun and I would think long and hard about Hamels as well.

I would also keep Braun over Reyes and Upton. Longoria needs one more year to prove in my mind that he isnt Troy Tulowitski.

My list would include David Wright and Lincecum and I am not sure who else.

[panama74]

Braun could be a once in a generation guy, better than Yount or Molitor. Would be like trading a young Hank Aaron. Ask the Cubs how that Lou Brock trade worked out.