2010 SP Keeper Top Ten List

We continue in our 2010 Keeper List series.  Today we feature the top Fantasy Starting Pitchers.  Not only are these guys keepers, they're guys you can build your team around.  Make sure you check out our other Positional Rankings as well.

1. Tim Lincecum
2. Zack Greinke
3. Roy Halladay
4. Felix Hernandez
5. Dan Haren
6. CC Sabathia
7. Johan Santana
8. Chris Carpenter
9. Justin Verlander
10. Jon Lester

Will's Take:  Being left handed, 25 years old and averaging 263 K's over the last two years puts Tim Lincecum at the top of the starting pitching heap.  He's young, he's filthy, and he's the total package.  Right behind him is Greinke, he's just a year older and had a better ERA (2.16) then Lincecum (2.48), but is on an awful team.  "Doc" Halladay is 3rd on my list with 9 CG's and 4 shutouts, if he's traded to a national league team he shoots to #1.  Winning almost 80% of his starts and being 24 years old with over 200 SO's puts King Felix at #4.  Looks like the Mariners are going to put more money into the team which should help Hernandez.  Dan Haren is 5th despite being on a horrible team and winning less then 60% of his games.  The Diamondbacks can't get any worse and he plays in the NL West, the best pitchers parks in the league.  The Park hurts CC, at #6, but he has showing he can overcome, plus he is destined to have a lot of wins with the offense the Yankee's posses.  Despite injury coming in at 7 is Johan Santana, I look for him to rebound from injury and have a great 2010, but he needs the Mets to get some bats this offseason to get the W's.  Chris Carpenter is nasty at #8, he is almost unhittable, but is an injury risk.  Verlander is 9th, I'm calling his 2008 an aberration.  Rounding out the top 10 is Jon Lester; His only downfall is he plays in the brutal AL East.  Bottom line is if you have 2 of these guys you will have a good chance for fantasy success and at the very least guys that are desirable for trades.

1. Tim Lincecum
2. Zack Greinke
3. Felix Hernandez
4. CC Sabathia
5. Johan Santana
6. Roy Halladay
7. Dan Haren
8. Chris Carpenter
9. Jon Lester
10. Cliff Lee

Steve's Take: Lincecum, Greinke, and Hernandez were not only the top three fantasy pitchers last year, they're all young and will be fantasy studs for years to come.  They are the perfect types of guys to build your fantasy team around.  CC is in the prime of his career on the best team in the league.  I'm confident Johan and the rest of the Mets will rebound from their disappointing '09 season.  Like Will said Halladay's value is really tied to where he is pitching next season.  Being number six on the list is really a worst case scenario.  Put him on a contender and the sky is the limit.  I think we'll see the '08 version of Cliff Lee in 2010, a full season with the Phils will work wonders for him.  Verlander just missed my list mostly because I see him as a feast or famine guy.  He has the potential to finish in the top 3 or he could finish way out of the top 10.