Votto: Trout 'ruined' conversation for MLB's best player

Five or six years ago, Joey Votto - the Cincinnati Reds' born-to-hit first baseman - could have been considered the best player in Major League Baseball.

Then Mike Trout came along and ruined that.

Ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale, Votto - who boasts a career .425 OBP and remains a dark-horse candidate for the 2016 National League MVP award - lamented how Trout's unrivaled abilities have pretty much stifled any debate as to who's the best baseball player on the planet.

"Personally, until Trout came into the league, I thought every year that I would be in the conversation for best player in the game and he f----d that up for everybody. Babe Ruth and Ted Williams included," Votto told Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "He's ruining it for everyone."

Votto isn't wrong. Since his 2012 rookie season, Trout is without parallel, compiling nearly 15 more WAR over that span than the next-most valuable player. Despite earning just one MVP award in his first four seasons, Trout has hit .310/.410/.564 while averaging 33 homers and 28 stolen bases per year since becoming a full-time player, and has been the game's best offensive player after adjusting for park effects and his league's run-scoring environment (171 wRC+).

WAR leaders, 2012-2016

And, as Votto noted, Trout has no apt historical comparison, either. No player in history has compiled more WAR through his age-24 season than Trout, who, in 2016, posted a new career high in on-base percentage (.439) and walk-to-strikeout ratio (0.83).

All-time WAR leaders, through age-24 season