Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine polled a dozen general managers in Major League Baseball and asked them a series of questions based on their peers.  Here are the highlights:

EASIEST GMs TO MAKE A DEAL WITH

Jim Hendry, Cubs (5 votes) “Hendry is the type of person you’d feel comfortable going out and having a beer with. He’s a backslapping type of guy, and that really works for making trades.”

Ken Williams, White Sox (3) “It’s either a ‘yes’ or a ‘no,’ and it’s immediate. He knows what he’s willing to do.”

Larry Beinfest, Marlins (1) “Absolutely no BS. The conversations are short, a quick e-mail, and when he says he’ll get back to you on a proposal, it’s usually the same day.”

Theo Epstein, Red Sox (1) “He goes into each discussion knowing what he wants and how he values his own players. Very decisive.”

Doug Melvin, Brewers (1) “He’s very good at seeing how deals could line up. The conversations will move along.”

Billy Beane, Athletics (1) “He’s always looking to make a fair deal.”

TOUGHEST GMs TO MAKE A DEAL WITH

Brian Sabean, Giants (7) “I can’t get him to return a call. I’ve had two baseball conversations with him in the past five years.”

Ned Colletti, Dodgers (4) “When you’re talking to him, it feels like you’re dealing with five different people, and you don’t know whether it’s the owner, the scouting director or the manager who really holds the power.”

Neal Huntington, Pirates (1) “It feels formal talking with him, to the point of being uncomfortable.”

GMs WHO ARE THE BIGGEST CARD PLAYERS

Huntington (3) “I like him, but you don’t ever feel at ease. He’s a good person, but he’s just very polished, well-spoken, to the point where it’s tough to know what’s really going on.”

Colletti (3) “He’s not going to share information or make a move until he absolutely has to.”

Omar Minaya, Mets (1) “He’ll give you a ridiculous proposal that might just kill the conversation. He’ll offer you a $5 bill and ask for two 10s in return.”

Walt Jocketty, Reds (1) “I find talking with him to be the biggest waste of time, because he never commits to anything. He talks to you as if he’s interested, and then you never hear back from him.”

Ed Wade, Astros (1) “He will always talk with you, but it seems like he’s never willing to put himself in a position to risk anything.”

Mike Rizzo, Nationals (1) “He’ll give you the kind of proposals that just end conversations. They’re very one-sided.”

Andrew Friedman, Rays (1) “He’s very strategic in his dealings. I don’t think he ever opens up.”

Jon Daniels, Rangers (1) “He comes across as very, very careful.”

IF YOU NEEDED A GM, WHOM WOULD YOU HIRE?

Epstein (8) “Theo’s career has been helped by being in Boston, but I think that if you had put him in Kansas City five years ago, they’d be pretty good right now. If you were an owner, it would be hard to find someone better.”

Josh Byrnes, Diamondbacks (2) “I think he’s smart as hell, he’s well thought-out, and he’s a good person.”

Friedman (1) “I know he’s young, but look at what they’ve accomplished organizationally. He’s the best GM in the game.”

Beinfest (1) “He makes the most out of the talent he’s got.”