By Andrew Perna Oakland GM Billy Beane has become famous in the sporting world for paying the bare minimum for some of baseball?s best players. His shrewd tactics have led to many successes, but may have also kept the A?s from hoisting a World Series trophy in recent years. The departures of guys like Hudson, Mulder, and Zito have changed the face of Oakland baseball, but new names always seem to emerge. Having majored in business in college, I?d like to think that if given the reigns to an MLB franchise I?d be more of a Billy than a George (Steinbrenner that is). Looking over the baseball salaries for this season, I assembled a cheap line-up worth glowing over. Catcher ? Brian McCann, Atlanta ($440,000) McCann has enjoyed a fast start to the new season, but it was his 2006 campaign that persuaded me to add him to my bargain line-up. During his first full-year of duty as the Braves catcher Brian hit .333 in 482 at-bats, while playing baseball?s most demanding position. He also added some pop to the Braves line-up with 24 home runs and 93 runs batted in. I?ll take that from any my hitters, let alone my catcher. First Baseman ? Justin Morneau, Minnesota ($4,500,000) An argument could very easily have been made for fellow 2006 MVP, Ryan Howard, who earns less than a million this season, but Morneau is less likely to ink an inflated contract when his rookie deal ends. Justin is hitting .353 through five games thus far, he?s on pace to eclipse his career-high 34 home run total this season, let?s hope he sustains his torrid pace throughout the season. Second baseman ? Dan Uggla, Florida ($392,000) Again, there could have been several other guys listed at this position (like Robinson Cano, Brandon Phillips, or even Chase Utley). But Uggla is probably the least-known of the four second basemen. During his first season as a Marlin Dan hit .282 with 27 home runs and 90 runs batted in. His 2006 highlights included breaking the Major League record for rookie second baseman (home runs). Third baseman ? David Wright, New York Mets ($1,250,000) It?s not often that you can employ an MVP-caliber third basemen for a little over a million bucks. The Mets won?t enjoy such a bargain for long, but regardless they should be enjoying the discount while it lasts. Wright hit .311 with 26 home runs and 116 RBIs for New York last season. Those were numbers slightly better than his break-out 2005 campaign, showcasing his potential and consistency. He?s the Big Apple?s new Derek Jeter (Yeah, I said it ? don?t worry I?m a Yankee fan). Shortstop ? Hanley Ramirez, Florida ($402,000) He hasn?t had the kind of season that New York?s Jose Reyes had posted yet, Reyes earns a little less than three million this year, but he?s getting there. In his first full Major League season in 2006 Hanley hit .292 with 17 home runs, 59 RBIs, and a speedy 51 stolen bases. Put him in a line-up like Reyes enjoys, and those RBI numbers would likely spike. He?s tearing through the opposition thus far in 2007; hopefully injuries won?t derail him from breaking out even more. Leftfielder ? Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay ($4,125,000) He?s only the second guy on the list that earns more than $1.5 million, which makes him an allowed splurge. He?s probably the most established of the players on my roster, explaining the salary, which is the Devil Rays? highest. However, when you consider that the average ML outfielder earns 3.59 million, he?s a dollar store buy. He?s snagged 46 or more bags in each of the last four seasons, and he has hit nearly .300 (.292) for his career. If it counts, and it does on my team, he?s a good guy as well. Centerfielder ? Chris B. Young, Arizona ($380,000) Don?t ask me for a detailed reason why, but I love this kid. His ML experience has included less than 100 at-bats, but he?s got a list of skills longer than Napoleon Dynamite. Seven games into the 2007 season he?s only one RBI off his season total (10 in 30 games) from 2006. If he becomes more patient, his batting average should skyrocket ? along with the rest of his endless potential. Rightfielder ? Delmon Young, Tampa Bay ($1,340,000) He had a little temper incident in the Minors, but he seems to have smoothed that over as an every-day Major Leaguer. In 126 at-bats as a rookie last season Young hit an impressive .317 and smacked three home runs to the tune of ten RBIs. This season he?ll hold down rightfield for the youthful Rays, and pair with Crawford to fortify two-thirds of my outfield from Tampa Bay. He?s started his first full season in the ML hot, hitting .350 in his first twenty at-bats. Designated Hitter ? Travis Hafner, Cleveland ($4,050,000) This was another tough one, but I decided to add the DH to my roster (I?m an AL guy). Not every AL team lists an everyday DH, I could only count eleven, and I could have seemingly picked any hitter I wanted to fill the spot. Instead I chose Hafner, one of the lowest-paid DHs in the AL. Last season he hit .308 while spanking 42 long balls and knocking in 117 runs. His numbers have been similar over the last three years, so you know what you?re getting from the Cowley County alum. Starting Pitcher ? Brandon Webb, Arizona ($4,500,000) There were cheaper options out there, but not many are legitimate number one starters, even when you share a clubhouse with Randy Johnson. Brandon is arguably one of the game?s most underrated players, despite his NL Cy Young win in 2006. In 33 starts last year he went 16-8, with a 3.10 ERA. He also struck out 178 batters (just 50 walks). He?s also a workhouse. He?s pitched 180+ innings in each of the last four years, and has gotten better in each one. Middle Relief ? Jon Rauch, Washington ($455,000) Last season he logged 91.1 inning of relief work, striking out more batters (86) then he allowed to hit him (78), while maintaining a respectable 3.35 ERA. Good enough for me to bridge the gap between Webb and my closer, and all for less than a half a million. His work thus far in 2007 for the Nationals has been superb, let?s hope he does the same for my fictional franchise. Closer ? Huston Street, Oakland ($380,000) What?s an economical baseball line-up without a real-life Billy Beane guy? Street ties Chris Young for the lowest salary on my squad, but like the other bargains I?ve scooped up, that won?t last for long. The 2005 Rookie of the Year logged 37 saves last year, up from the 24 he earned in his rookie campaign. His ERA went up slightly, but that?s nothing that pitching coach Andrew Perna can?t fix. Who would make up your dream MLB line-up? [email protected]