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?
Between 1975 and 1991, the Royals and Twins were October regulars with the former winning it all in 1985 and the latter winning in 1987 and 1991. More recently, the Twins have been a small market success with playoff appearances in four out of five years early in the new century, but Kansas City has been able to duplicate their division rival's small market success.
Zack Greinke, RHP, Kansas City Royals
Other players considered from the Royals: Mike Moustakas, Joakim Soria
Why he's a franchise player: After being the sixth overall pick in 2002, it took very little time for Greinke to make his pro debut in 2004 and he posted a 3.97 ERA in 24 starts. While he wasn't a strikeout pitcher, he pitched to contact, avoided walks and took great advantage of a .269 BAbip.
He then struggled horribly in 2005 and was eventually put on the 60-day disabled list because of an anxiety disorder.
He came back strong in 2007, splitting time between starting and the bullpen, while recording a 3.69 ERA. In 2008, he established himself as a legitimate ace with a 3.47 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 202.3 innings.
Though he of course is at a tremendous advantage because this stat includes his appearances out of the bullpen, but he is 12th in ERA+ over the past two seasons, ahead of big starters like Roy Oswalt, Josh Beckett and Scott Kazmir. Unlike his first season in the bigs, Greinke allowed a BAbip of .309, which suggests his level of performance was not a fluke.
Joe Mauer, C, Minnesota Twins
Other players considered from the Twins: Justin Morneau, Francisco Liriano
Why he's a franchise player: Mauer was the first overall selection in the 2001 draft, ahead of Mark Prior, Gavin Floyd and Mark Teixeira. Although he hasn't developed much pop, he has a career batting average of .317 and OBP of .399. Mauer has a long ways to go, but Mickey Cochrane is the only other catcher who has a higher lifetime batting average, while Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez are the only other modern catchers who have a career mark of .300 or better.
When examining OPS+, Mauer is fourth all-time behind Piazza, Gene Tenace and Dick Dietz.
Mauer hit for an OPS of .514 against lefties in his first full season in 2005, but hit .939 against them in 2008 with seven homers in just 183 at bats. If this kind of production continues, then Mauer may finally win that MVP especially with the impact he makes behind the plate.
Free agency is on the horizon and while Minnesota will do everything they can to keep their kid at home, he has a career .998 OPS at Fenway and has never really hit especially well at the Metrodome. He will have one year at their new ballpark before he becomes a free agent after the 2010 season.
