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Well we know that would make DJ worth something like 20 million a year on the open market, right?  WAR/$ is going up with the new TV contracts, so by the time he gets up and is posting that kind of figure he's DEFINITELY worth that as a 4 WAR player. How would $20 million of production every year not be a super-valuable commodity? Like I said, that's basically an Aramis Ramirez peak with All-Star appearances and MVP votes.  I think you're saying that if that's his peak, then we're betting he doesn't hit it or that even if he does it's not a huge loss - is that correct? So if he maxes out at 3-4 WAR instead of Trout's extravagant totals, then he's not a huge loss because the super-upside isn't there.  Please let me know if I'm misinterpreting you.
(As an aside: modern analysis seems to have no room for the value of a hitter who can drive in runs. 9 Brendan Ryans can't bring each other home from their random singles, and while defense at some point overlaps and becomes less valuable, hitting does not - and plus hitters with power will continue to outperform their WAR figures as there becomes less power in the game.  But that's a different discussion.  I mean, quick: the Ms can only add one player in their prime to this team: Ozzie Smith or Jim Thome.  Who do you want?  Both guys are 75ish WAR players for their careers after all, and we could use upgrades at both positions, so there should be no difference, right?  A run saved is a run scored.  Anyway...).
Let's say DJ can't hit that 4 WAR total and is only a 2 WAR player - is that enough? Brandon Moss was a 2 WAR player last year.  Allen Craig got 2.5 in 2012.  Adam Lind and his .500 SLG earned 2-ish last season.  If we're saying it's not okay to be Moss, Craig or Lind, then what exactly is the definition of a decently-plus 1B?
Let's say he's Viciedo, who at .260 /.300 /.425 career has basically been replacement-level on a corner according to WAR. I assume we don't want him then, right?  A .725 OPS first baseman?  We've had that.  His name is Smoak, or thereabouts. Smoak's career OPS is .690, so it would be a BIT of an improvement, but probly not enough to impress too many people.
If the HIGH upside of being Aramis Ramirez, multiple-time All-Star is not worth keeping DJ around to try for, and the hoped-for-but-not-pie-in-the-sky landing spot of Craig, Lind and Moss is not good enough (especially since his current plate discipline may not allow him to get there), then yes we'd absolutely be better off trading him because there's no reason to risk a couple of more Smoak-like seasons just to get that sort of 2 WAR moderate-sweetspot upside.
But what 1B prospect IS worth keeping at that point?
I guess I feel like WAR at bat-positions is oddly perceived. Ichiro cannot provide his utmost value to the team that is trying to drive him in with Ryan or Ackley instead of Clark or A-Ram.  Take Seager off this team and where are we?  Add another Seager and what do we have? .280/.350/.490 from another hitter could win us a ring.
Is that a valuable commodity, or not?