(*) BATTING: Sell Trout Now!

“So there’s this kid playing in southern California, just in his second year in the big leagues, 20 years old. Looks like the real deal – hits for average, has some pop, runs the bases well, dandy with the leather. He could be great.”

This sounds like something we’ve all heard: Mike Trout, right? And you’d never trade Mike Trout! Not even for a parcel of players who could set you up for the next few seasons.

But what if we told you that the year is not 2012, but 1999? And the player is not Mike Trout, but ... Adrián Béltre?

Trout is the hottest story in the big leagues this season, with his gaudy offensive stats (on pace for 27-92-67-.349/.403/.574) and Web-gem defense. When a guy like this comes along, we naturally start...

Almost!

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