MLB Dream Team: Constructing the perfect lineup from the past 30 years

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A photo found on Baseball Reddit has been making its way around Twitter where it's instructing people to make a dream team from the past 30 years, with $33 of "fake money."

There are some pretty legendary options. 

NBC Sports California's own Dallas Braden constructed his version of this dream team, so I decided to create my own that had a really good chance of beating his. Or one that could just beat his team altogether.

Here is his, along with the other possible options:

And here's mine:

LF: Barry Bonds - $5 -- Bonds had a way of getting rid of the ball quickly on defense. In my dream team scenario, I can picture it turning into a nightmare when a ball caroms off that particular spot in the left-field corner and all craziness breaks loose. I would feel confident knowing even if he doesn't have control over the ball immediately, he can handle bringing it back into the infield.

Oh, and did I mention the guy can mash?

CF: Mike Trout - $5 -- Do I really need to explain myself? This guy is the king of robbing home runs and a five-tool athlete that everyone adds to their made-up team in those baseball video games.

RF: Mookie Betts - $3 -- I'm unsure how Mookie was only worth $3, but it's a heck of a steal. Maybe it was because he was behind Ichiro who could simply point to a place and that's where the ball was going. Nonetheless, Betts was one of the best outfielders in all of baseball last season and I can't imagine an outfield without him.

SS: Cal Ripken Jr. - $4 -- IRON MAN. You need a middle infielder who is resilient. 2,131 consecutive games? Yes, please.

2B: Jeff Kent - $1 -- Kent's glove was always steady. And for his era when second basemen weren't known for hitting the ball as he did, this was the biggest steal of them all.

3B: Nolan Arenado - $2 -- Who makes these prices?! From a defensive perspective, I would say Matt Chapman was the top third baseman in all of baseball last year, but Arenado was sensational with his glove and at the plate. Coors Field or not, this guy is one of the most talented baseball players in the game right now.

1B: Jim Thome - $2 -- Yes, I deserve to have a recent Hall of Famer on my team -- this is my team. Plus, at the age of 39, he was boasting a .283 batting average and was even in MVP talks around that time. Sign me up.

Starter: Randy Johnson - $4 -- The Big Unit. We should all be so lucky to have a legend like him on our team. He changed the way the stereotypical pitcher was painted in baseball and to be able to add someone like that to your pitching staff is truly a dream.

Closer: Craig Kimbrel - $1 -- How this guy isn't signed yet is beyond me. Anywho ...

When you are rooting for the batter and you see Kimbrel coming out of the bullpen, you immediately say a prayer for the guy at the plate. I'm glad I don't have to face him in the box.

DH: Edgar Martinez - $3 -- I'm a firm believer in the designated hitter and everything it has to offer. Martinez exudes everything you could want in a DH, and clearly, the Hall of Fame thought so too when they voted him in this year. 

C: Buster Posey - $3 -- Yes, this team is Giants-heavy, but six-time All-Star Buster Posey has caught numerous Cy Young Award winners, World Series championship games, and I believe he would be able to handle any era of the game.

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Total: $33

Here's the thing. Every team you construct is a good one. But mine has three Giants, multiple Hall of Famers, and the Iron Man. 

Can you beat that?

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