A lot has happened in Major League Baseball since the last Hanging Curve, including an injury to a future Hall of Famer (Mariano Rivera), the benching of another (Albert Pujols) and a career-week for a slugger (Josh Hamilton) on a path that could lead to Cooperstown.
If the Jays front office thinks they can form a starting rotation worthy of contending in the East in the next couple seasons, there is no reason to believe that they will not make a run at Prince Fielder.
Ryan Braun and Troy Tulowitzki talked to RealGM about LeBron James and starting their own big three.
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Over the next few weeks as the NCAA Tournament and Spring Training dominate the month of March, we have combined the two for our own March Madness, which will determine who the readers of RealGM will select in the second edition of our 'Be The GM' series.
Though there are many different potential answers, the question is simple; If you were to start a MLB franchise from scratch and had the option to pick any player in the world, who would you pick?
In the first match-up of this series, it is the Battle of Highway 401.
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers
Other players considered from the Tigers: Justin Verlander and Curtis Granderson
Why he's a franchise player: Cabrera was a key component of the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins as a 20-year-old rookie who hit .268/.325/.468 with 12 homers in just 314 at bats. He also hit four homers in that 2003 postseason in 68 at bats.
Since then Cabrera has been extremely durable, playing in at least 157 games each season, while putting up consistently excellent numbers. He routinely hits over .300 with a slugging percentage in the mid .500's, along with approximately 35 homers and doubles apiece.
Cabrera is ninth in OPS+ since 2004, ahead of Ryan Howard, Mark Teixeria, David Wright and teammate Magglio Ordonez.
He initially struggled coming over to the Tigers, but had an explosive second half by hitting .302/.350/.601 with 21 homers in 268 at bats.
His defense is not on the level of fellow offensive force Albert Pujols, but he has settled into the position fairly well and should improve now that he doesn't have to take on the demands of third base.
Cabrera won't turn 26 until the middle of April and should eventually hit at least 500 homers in his career while maintaining a lifetime OPS over .900.
Travis Snider, LF, Toronto Blue Jays
Other players considered from Blue Jays: Alex Rios and Roy Halladay
Why he's a franchise player: Snider hasn't proven himself in the way both Rios and Halladay has, but he has the fellow hitter beat in terms of ceiling and the pitcher beat in regards to age.
He projects to having very nice power and a solid OBP if he can reduce his strikeout rate. Snider should be able to tear up righty pitching from the get go, but he'll have some growing pains against lefties.
Snider won't be a Gold Glove outfielder, but he has a solid arm and good range at this age.
