Players you would build a team around

[AlwaysaCub]

Pujols. easily.

 

+1. He needed TJ surgery all of last year (still does) and hit .357.

 

Others for consideration who haven't been mentioned:

Markakis and/or Adam Jones

The Uptons (either one)

 

It's pretty hard to pick a pitcher, any pitcher, to be your franchise player. Too much pressure and injury risk

[sneakypower]

i don't know why people keep thinking Hanley needs to move off SS

[hardcorecubfan]

Has to be Longoria. The age difference between him and Pujols gives him the edge. And like someone said above, it's probably more than the listed five years.

 

Pitching-wise, I guess I'd go with Lincecum.

 

Pujols is not that old, just check his birth certificate :roll:

[biittner77]

i don't know why people keep thinking Hanley needs to move off SS

 

Same reason they move good hitting catchers to corner OF or 1st base. The wear & tear of playing SS and his size work against him staying there forever. 50 years ago Ernie Banks was Hanley Ramirez.

[apete6]

1. Hanley Ramirez-perfect blend of speed and power. Average SS, but a premium position for at least the next 5-7 years. If he has to move to 3B, still a great player.

2. Evan Longoria-great 3B, great power, should be awesome for a long time

3. Albert Pujols-best hitter maybe ever, even though he's good at 1B, his position hurts him a bit

4. Jose Reyes-good SS, lack of HR power could be concerning as he gets older, but still a game changer

5. Matt Weiters--premium position, if he pans out, could be a better defending straight version of Mike Piazza

[sneakypower]

some guys who obviously aren't in the top 5, but can be franchise players

 

Elvis Andrus - holding your own offensively in the AL at age 20 is a great indicator of talent, and his glove is fantastic. could have a Rollins-type career.

Jay Bruce - the bat's obviously good, but he also might already be best fielding RF in the game

Madison Bumgarner & Tommy Hanson - Cy Young upside

Clay Buchholz - i actually like him more than Price

Matt LaPorta & Justin Smoak - can't miss impact bats

 

and it's crazy how few top fives listed Mauer

[Tracer Bullet]

Longoria or Hanley.

[imb]

who the [expletive] picked ryan zimmerman

[XZero771679666304]

some guys who obviously aren't in the top 5, but can be franchise players

 

Elvis Andrus - holding your own offensively in the AL at age 20 is a great indicator of talent, and his glove is fantastic. could have a Rollins-type career.

Jay Bruce - the bat's obviously good, but he also might already be best fielding RF in the game

Madison Bumgarner & Tommy Hanson - Cy Young upside

Clay Buchholz - i actually like him more than Price

Matt LaPorta & Justin Smoak - can't miss impact bats

 

and it's crazy how few top fives listed Mauer

 

Yeah, I can't believe I omitted him. The only thing questionable about him is his position and how that relates to his health.

[MPrior]

My top five choices for position players:

 

1) Hanley Ramirez

2) Evan Longoria

3) Albert Pujols

4) Ryan Zimmerman

5) Jay Bruce

 

For pitchers:

 

1) Tim Lincecum

2) Zach Greinke

3) Felix Hernandez

4) Jake Peavy

5) Chad Billingsley

 

You've piqued my curiosity. Why Zimmerman? I mean, he's obviously a fine player already, and may be coming into his own offensively this season, but I have a hard time seeing him as a top-5 player to build a franchise around, especially when David Wright also plays 3B, is young, is a good defender (although not as good as Zimmerman), and has shown himself to be much better offensively.

[SweetZombieJesus]

Uh, the guy should've drafted instead of Vitters or Wieters. Rick Porcello.

[MarthaT]

The obvious is Pujols, although they don't seem to want to spend money to build a team around him