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?
Here are the two main factors I accounted for when deciding on the nominations from each team:
1. Is he a consistent MVP, Cy Young or All-Star caliber player?
2. Does he have a sizable amount of his prime remaining?
Voting for each match-up won't end until the given round is over, so feel free to check back on any of the previous polls via the links below.
March 1st
The contest is launched with an almost free-for-all of players that were not included from their respective teams, but deserve consideration nonetheless.
Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox
Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees
Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox
David Price, Tampa Bay Rays
Jose Reyes, New York Mets
CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State
Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees
B.J. Upton, Tampa Bay Rays
Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
David Wright, New York Mets
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article.
March 2nd
Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera
Toronto Blue Jays: Travis Snider
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 3rd
Cleveland Indians: Grady Sizemore
Chicago White Sox: Carlos Quentin
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 4th
Kansas City Royals: Zack Greinke
Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 5th
Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria
Baltimore Orioles: Matt Wieters
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 6th
Boston Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia
New York Yankees: Alex Rodriguez
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 7th
Texas Rangers: Josh Hamilton
Seattle Mariners: Felix Hernandez
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 8th
Oakland Athletics: Matt Holliday
Los Angeles Angels: Ervin Santana
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 9th
New York Mets: Johan Santana
Philadelphia Phillies: Cole Hamels
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 10th
Atlanta Braves: Brian McCann
Florida Marlins: Hanley Ramirez
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 11th
Washington Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman
Pittsburgh Pirates: Pedro Alvarez
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 12th
Chicago Cubs: Geovany Soto
St. Louis Cardinals: Albert Pujols
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 13th
Cincinnati Reds: Jay Bruce
Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Braun
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 14th
Houston Astros: Roy Oswalt
San Diego Padres: Jake Peavy
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 16th
Colorado Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki
Arizona Diamondbacks: Brandon Webb
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
March 17th
San Francisco Giants: Tim Lincecum
Los Angeles Dodgers: Chad Billingsley
Click here to cast your vote and here to read the accompanying article
Sweet 16
March 18th
Vote-In Winner vs. Miguel Cabrera or Travis Snider
March 19th
Grady Sizemore or Carlos Quentin vs. Zack Greinke or Joe Mauer
March 20th
Josh Hamilton or Felix Hernandez vs. Matt Holliday or Ervin Santana
March 21st
Evan Longoria or Matt Witers vs. Dustin Pedroia or Alex Rodriguez
March 23rd
Johan Santana or Cole Hamels vs. Brian McCann or Hanley Ramirez
March 24th
Ryan Zimmerman or Pedro Alvarez vs. Geovany Soto or Albert Pujols
March 25th
Jay Bruce or Ryan Braun vs. Roy Oswalt or Jake Peavy
March 26th
Troy Tulowitzki or Brandon Webb vs. Tim Lincecum or Russell Martin
Elite Eight
March 27th
March 18th winner vs. March 19th winner
March 28th
March 20th vs. March 21st winner
March 30
March 23rd winner vs. March 24th winner
March 31st
March 25th winner vs. March 26th winner
Final Four
April 1st
AL Finals
April 3rd
NL Finals
Final Round
April 5th
AL Finalist vs. NL Finalist
Be The GM: Which Player Would You Start A Franchise With?