Drafting pitching in a dynasty or keeper league is difficult, and ranking them is harder. You can look at a pitchers frame and mechanics to determine whether or not he’s at risk for injury, but predicting injury is next to impossible. Mark Prior’s probably the best example of a well-built pitcher with a fluid motion who had everything in his favour. Injuries struck down his promising career, regardless.
With that said, I always put a premium on pitchers that have shown me something. Even the great David Price will be downgraded in my rankings, due to the lack of major league pitching experience. Price probably has top-five stuff and his age works in his favour, yet he falls to almost 20th in my list. It’s just about weighing risk and reward.
Pitchers unlike batters have to contribute, or else you’re actually losing something. If your opponents are throwing in Mark Buerhle’s to fill up the stat sheet, while you let Brett Anderson sit on your bench, you’ll lose and you’ll lose bad. This is more noticeable in a points league than a head to head or rotisserie league.
If they’re available in Yahoo’s player pool, I’ll try to include them.
1. Tim Lincecum – SF Giants – 24
2. Cole Hamels – PHI Phillies – 25
3. C.C. Sabathia – NY Yankees – 28
4. Johan Santana – NY Mets – 30
5. Felix Hernandez – SEA Mariners – 22
6. Chad Billingsley – LA Dodgers – 24
7. Jake Peavy – SD Padres – 27
8. Dan Haren – ARI Diamondbacks – 28
9. Zack Greinke – KC Royals – 25
10. Yovani Gallardo – MIL Brewers – 23
11. Scott Kazmir – TB Rays – 25
12. Clayton Kershaw – LA Dodgers – 21
13. Francisco Liriano – MIN Twins – 25
14. Josh Beckett – BOS Red Sox – 28
15. James Shields – TAM Rays – 27
16. Daisuke Matsuzaka – BOS Red Sox – 28
17. Scott Baker – MIN Twins – 27
18. Jon Lester – BOS Red Sox – 25
19. Joba Chamberlain – NY Yankees – 23
20. David Price – TAM Rays -
21. John Lackey – LAA Angels – 30
22. Brandon Webb – ARI Diamondbacks – 29
23. Roy Halladay – TOR Jays – 31
24. Max Scherzer – ARI Diamondbacks – 24
25. Rich Harden – CHI Cubs – 27
26. Edison Volquez – CIN Reds – 25
27. Clay Bucholz – BOS Red Sox – 24
28. John Danks – CHI White Sox – 23
29. Kevin Slowey – MIN Twins – 24
30. Adam Wainwright – STL Cardinals – 27
31. Ricky Nolasco – FLA Marlins – 26
32. Roy Oswalt – HOU Astros – 31
33. Matt Garza – TAM Rays – 25
34. Ervin Santana – LA Angels – 26
35. Matt Cain – SF Giants – 24
36. Cliff Lee – CLE Indians – 30
37. Brandon Morrow – SEA Mariners – 24
38. Fausto Carmona – CLE Indians – 25
39. Carlos Zambrano – CHI Cubs – 27???
40. Erik Bedard – SEA Mariners – 30
41. A.J. Burnett – NY Yankees – 32
42. Justin Verlander – DET Tigers – 26
43. Andrew Miller – FLA Marlins – 23
44. Johnny Cueto – CIN Reds – 23
45. Jared Weaver – LA Angels – 26
46. Ubaldo Jiminez – COL Rockies – 25
47. Josh Johnson – FLA Marlins – 25
48. Brett Myers – PHI Phillies – 28
49. Chris Volstad – FLA Marlins – 22
50. Jeremy Guthrie – BAL Orioles – 29
51. Jair Jurrjens – ATL Braves – 23
52. Chien-Ming Wang – NY Yankees – 29
53. Phil Hughes – NY Yankees – 22
54. Ben Sheets – FA – 30
55. Chris Young – SD Padres – 29
56. Mike Pelfrey – NY Mets – 25
57. Brett Anderson – OAK Athletics – 21
58. John Maine – NY Mets – 27
59. Javier Vazquez – ATL Braves – 32
60. Aaron Harang – CIN Reds – 30
61. Jesse Litsch – TOR Jays – 24
62. Oliver Perez – NY Mets – 27
63. Trevor Cahill – OAK Athletics – 21
64. Paul Maholm – PIT Pirates – 26
65. Manny Parra – MIL Brewers – 26
66. Dustin McGowan – TOR Jays – 27
67. Tommy Hanson – ATL Braves – 22
68. Jonathan Sanchez – SF Giants – 26
69. Joe Saunders – LA Angels – 27
70. Ryan Dempster – CHI Cubs – 31
71. Neftali Feliz – TEX Rangers – 20
72. Armando Galarraga – DET Tigers – 27
73. Gil Meche – KC Royals – 30
74. Justin Duchscherer – OAK Athletics – 31
75. Wandy Rodriguez – HOU Astros – 30
76. Shaun Marcum – TOR Jays – 27
77. Ted Lilly – CHI Cubs – 33
78. Carlos Carrasco – PHI Phillies – 22
79. Gavin Floyd – CHI White Sox – 26
80. Nick Adenhart – LA Angels – 22
81. Ian Snell – PIT Pirates – 27
82. Derek Lowe – ATL Braves – 35
83. Chris Tillman – BAL Orioles – 22
84. Franklin Morales – COL Rockies – 23
85. Scott Lewis – CLE Indians – 25
86. Tim Hudson – ATL Braves – 33
87. David Purcey – TOR Jays – 27
88. Rick Porcello – DET Tigers – 20
89. Brian Matusz – BAL Orioles – 22
90. Derek Holland – TEX Rangers – 22
91. Jordan Zimmermann – WAS Nationals – 22
92. John Lannan – WAS Nationals – 24
93. Anibal Sanchez – FLA Marlins – 25
94. Jon Garland – ARI Diamondbacks – 29
95. Carlos Villanueva – MIL Brewers – 25
96. Gio Gonzalez – OAK Athletics – 23
97. Sean Gallagher – OAK Athletics – 23
98. Andy Sonnanstine – TAM Rays – 26
99. James McDonald – LA Dodgers – 24
100. Jeremy Bonderman – DET Tigers – 26
101. Wade Davis – TAM Rays – 23
102. Jake McGee – TAM Rays – 22
103. Hiroki Kuroda – LA Dodgers – 34
104. Adam Miller – CLE Indians – 24
105. Edwin Jackson – DET Tigers – 25
106. Randy Johnson – SF Giants – 45
107. Collin Balester – WAS Nationals – 22
108. Homer Bailey – CIN Reds – 22
109. Justin Masterson – BOS Red Sox – 24
110. Ian Kennedy – NY Yankees – 23
111. Nick Blackburn – MIN Twins – 27
112. Brad Penny – BOS Red Sox – 30
113. Michael Bowden – BOS Red Sox – 22
114. Jarrod Parker – ARI Diamondbacks – 19
115. Aaron Cook – COL Rockies – 30
116. Jeremy Hellickson – TB Rays
117. Andy Pettitte – NY Yankees – 36
118. Jonathon Niese – NY Mets – 22
119. Josh Outman – OAK Athletics – 24
120. Jeff Samardzija – CHI Cubs – 24
121. Mark Buehrle – CHI White Sox – 30
122. Bronson Arroyo – CIN Reds – 32
123. Jeff Francis – COL Rockies – 27
124. Micah Owings – CIN Reds – 26
125. David Bush – MIL Brewers – 29
126. Randy Wolf – LA Dodgers – 32
127. David Huff – CLE Indians – 23
128. Radhames Liz – BAL Orioles – 25
129. Gaby Hernandez – SEA Mariners – 22
130. Todd Wellemyer – STL Cardinals – 30
131. John Smoltz – BOS Red Sox – 41
132. Clayton Richard – CHW – 25
133. Kelvim Escobar – LAA – 32
134. Casey Janssen – TOR Jays – 27
135. Chris Carpenter – STL Cardinals – 33
136. Scott Richmond – TOR Jays – 29
137. Koji Uehara – BAL Orioles – 33
138. Kenshin Kawakami – ATL Braves – 33
I’ve undoubtedly missed quite a few starting pitchers, which is a shame. Unfortunately, I’m not going to make this list 300-Deep.
There are a few prospects worth mentioning that currently do not have Yahoo eligibility. Madison Bumgarner for the Giants is the most notable absence, but he’s not even 20. Jhoulys Chacin is also absent, along with Tim Alderson. Jays prospect, Brett Cecil also doesn’t make the list.
After pick 75-80, just start viewing the list in chunks of 20. I’ve done my best to order it as accurately as possible, but comparing prospects, young-kids, and veterans — is a pain the goddamn ass.
Please, comment! While I’m knowledgeable enough about baseball, i’ve been known to project Zach Duke as a #2 SP in the Majors. If you think Porcello should be higher, say so!
I Push Rhymes Like Weight. 
