The most un-tradable athletes in pro sports

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

It was ordinary Tuesday in the sports world. I was still in awe of Mike Vick's perfromance on Monday Night Football and Roy Halladay winning the National League Cy Young was no shocker.

But when I heard FoxSports report the Diamondbacks are open to shopping Justin Upton I lost it. You cannot trade a 23-year old stud Arizona! I don't care what you get in return.

Then Dan Uggla gets moved to Atlanta for Omar Infante? I guess the Marlins did not care what they got in return either.

Anyway that splash of water to my sleeping skull on this boring day sparked this list of the 25 guys in pro sports that I would NEVER trade away.

25. Stephen Strasburg (7/20/88) - The Washington National future ace showed he can be dominant in the bigs before he was injured. If he did not need surgery he would probably be higher on this list.
24. Sam Bradford (11/8/87) - This year's first overall pick by the St. Louis Rams has shown to be calm, cool and collected in the pocket and he does not even have playmakers to get the ball to yet.
23. Buster Posey (3/27/87) - The newest member to the Rookie of the Year Award club and catcher on the World Series winning Giants can hit in his pajamas. You just cannot trade a franchise catcher.
22. Chris Johnson (9/23/85) - It was hard for me to add any running back to this list because of their short life span in the NFL, but Titans may have one of the all-timers if he can continue this for the next five years.
21. Adrian Peterson (3/21/85) - Speaking of all-time running backs, the Vikings may have one already in the backfield. He's slightly more durable than Johnson and the guy I want if I had the choice.

20. Joe Flacco (1/16/85) - The position you should build around is quarterback and the Ravens have their guy. The former Delaware man is the real deal and getting better every season.
19. Matt Ryan (5/17/85) - Flacco and the Falcons' guy will be compared forever coming out in the same draft, but I like Ryan a little more.
18. Evgeni Malkin (7/31/86) - He may be Robin on the Penguins but this kid has all the talent in the world and he'd clearly be the best player on any other team. (Almost - keep reading)
17. Troy Tulowitzki (10/10/84) - Maybe I'm a sucker for a slick fielding shortstop but I'd rather have the Rockies guy more than Hanley Ramirez or Elvis Andrus. Tulo is the total package and he should be able to stay at shortsop, unlike Hanley.
16. Aaron Rodgers (12/2/83) - He may not have a playoff win the Packers yet, but he's on his way to big things in the NFL. He's more proven than the three QBs higher on this list and Green Bay would not trade him right now for Brett Favre 1991 edition.

15. Calvin Johnson (9/25/85) - If you are looking for the next Randy Moss I think you have found it in Detroit and he has not displayed the Moss attitude yet either. I wanted to put Stafford on this list, but injuries scare me. Calvin only scares defensive backs.
14. John Wall (9/6/90) - Our first and only '90s kid on this list and in the first weeks of the NBA season the Wizards have to be feeling good about the first overall pick. Point guards seem to be the craze and he is the latest obsession.
13. Derrick Rose (10/4/88) - I think the former Memphis man Wall will always follow in Rose's footsteps. The Bulls got the guy who is slightly better in every way in my opinion.
12. Justin Upton (8/25/87) - The man who sparked this blog. Every year could be a year this kid leads the Diamondbacks back to the World Series and wins MVP. He's that good. Believe me.
11. Jason Heyward (8/9/89) - If there is one hitter I'd take over Upton it would be Jason Heyward. The Atlanta phenom only scratched the surface in 2010 of what he can do. The encore in 2011 should be sensational.

10. Jonathan Toews (4/29/88) - Unlike football, in this physical sport you can stay around for decade and be one of the greats. You won't find a football player in the top 10 for that reason.
9. Patrick Kane (11/19/88) - Toews and Kane are a tandem that has already won a Cup together with the Blackhawks. Why would ever think about breaking them up?
8. Clayton Kershaw (3/19/88) - Maybe the rarest gem in all of sports is the left-handed ace. The Dodgers' Kershaw is on his way. Every year he gains control, stops the walks and is on his way to multiple all-star games and a few Cy-Young Awards.
7. David Price (8/26/85) - Price is the lefty that figured it out in 2010. He may have left a sour taste in our mouths with a below average postseason, but this kid from Vandy has responded to the pressure.

6. Dwight Howard (11/8/85) - I think the Magic's center still has the chance to be better than the All-World player he already is. I think he can add a 20-footer and take over a game and compete with Miami Heat's combo of Wade and James. Neither of them are on this list because they are both crazy enough to demand a trade. I like team players.
5. Felix Hernandez (4/8/86) - Only if the Mariners gave him run support. He will probably win a Cy tomorrow and the right thing for the organization may be to trade him for five OK guys, but Seattle would never forgive management if they traded King Felix.
4. Tim Lincecum (6/15/84) - While Felix will get his award tomorrow, Tiny Tim already has two and a world series ring with the Giants to match. Even if you are scared of him breaking down you cannot look at the Freak and think you will get equal return for this alien.
3. Kevin Durant (9/29/88) - I wonder how many scoring title this beast of a child will finish with. He may never be Kobe, Jordan or even Lebron, but he's a game changer that you have to ride to the promise land.

2. Alex Ovechkin (9/17/85) - The Caps main man is building his hall-of-fame career up and he's not afraid to get mean if he has to. Will be one of the best players on the ice in the NFL for the next two decades.
1. Sidney Crosby (8/7/87) - The Penguins have a guy that is 2 years younger than O-V, does not throw is body around as much, and already has a title to his name. I want that guy for the 15 plus years.