The decisions continue to get tougher as we put an ace pitcher (Roy Halladay) up against an elite slugger (Joey Votto). The Phillies and Reds are among the best teams in the National League, but which superstar would you prefer to build your own franchise around? Why Halladay is a Franchise Player If the Phillies have the best rotation in the game (and they do), then Halladay is their clear ace and, in turn, a huge part of any conversation about the top pitcher of his generation. Since 2001, he's finished just one season with an ERA over 4.00 and he's enjoyed two 20-win seasons. He's also finished 58 of the 321 games he's started in his career, an amazing total given today's reliance on bullpens and the perception that six innings is an adequate outing for a quality start. Halladay has never lead his league in strikeouts, but he's finished in the top 10 five times, including a second-place finish with the Phillies last season, his first in the NL. In seven of the last nine seasons, the right-hander has finished either first or second in terms of WAR for pitchers. It's an angle that is both over and underplayed, but Halladay's career numbers are even more impressive when you consider that he spent 10 seasons with the Blue Jays, who share the AL East with the powerful Yankees and Red Sox. For his career he's a combined 32-22 in 75 starts against New York and Boston. Why Votto is a Franchise Player All you have to do is look in Joey Votto's trophy case to see why he's worthy of not only advancing, but also being the last player standing when this is all said and done. He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2008 (behind Geovany Soto) and received four voting points in the 2009 MVP voting before winning the award last season. Votto was incredibly dangerous at the plate for the Reds, hitting .324 with 37 home runs and 113 RBIs in 2010. He struck out 125 times, but also drew 99 total walks. He led the NL in OBP (.424), SLG (.600) and OPS (1.024). He finished second in Offensive WAR (6.9), behind only future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. No one in baseball created more runs (144) than Votto did in 2010. Click here to see this year's 'Be A GM' bracket.