Over the next few weeks RealGMBaseball will be holding our 2014 Major League Baseball 'Be The GM' Contest to determine which player would be the best selection to build a franchise around.

The contest, which is being brought to you by the Original Retro Brand, is described and previewed here: RealGM's 2014 'Be The GM' Contest. You'll want to check out the link for rules on how to enter to win a $50 Retro Brand gift card and to see the full contest schedule.

Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds and Yovani Gallardo of the Milwaukee Brewers are featured in Friday's matchup. Voting will extend through the end of the first round.

Votto's 2014 season has been hampered by a quadriceps injury, but there is no mistaking his value. He has been an All-Star in each of the last four seasons and the 2010 National League MVP has finished sixth in the voting twice in the last three years. In 3,963 career plate appearances, the left-handed hitter has a .312/.419/.537 slash line.

He has been criticized for a lack of aggression at the plate, but his approach is justified by the highest on-base percentage among active players (.419). Votto has ranked second, third, ninth and fifth among NL position players in WAR over the last four full seasons, respectively. His propensity to draw walks hasn't completed robbed him of power. He has averaged 25 home runs over his last six seasons and his slugging percentage annually ranks among baseball's best.

Gallardo, 28, is quietly approaching 100 career wins (84-56) amid arguably his best season. Through 11 starts, he has a 3.56 ERA, 1.264 WHIP and nearly a 2:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Much of his value to the Brewers has been in health and consistency. He has started at least 30 games every year since 2009 and sports a 3.72 ERA over 1,162.2 career innings.

An All-Star in 2010, the right-hander amassed 200 or more strikeouts from 2009-12. However, since the start of last season he has seen a decline in velocity and strikeout rate. He posted a career-high 4.18 ERA in 2013, but is adjusting to a new approach. Gallardo has recorded more than six strikeouts just once this season, but has remained effective.

Vote In This Matchup: Votto or Gallardo?

Previous Matchups:

May 28: Harper or Rizzo?

May 26: Harvey or Brown?

May 23: Freeman or Fernandez?

May 21: Darvish or Cano?

May 19: Gray or Hernandez?

May 16: Springer or Trout?

May 14: Perez or Gibson?

May 12: Kipnis or Cabrera?

May 9: Lawrie or Sale?

May 7: Tanaka or Longoria?

May 5: Machado or Bogaerts?

Next Matchup: June 2 – Andrew McCutchen vs. Michael Wacha

Don't forget to Tweet your pick along with #BeTheGM to be entered to win a $50 Retro Brand gift card.