If we’re talking about talented $1-5 future picks, then Dustin McGowan should be at the top of your list. He’s an example of a young SP who had TJ surgery and got his stuff back. 349 Ks in 356 minor league innings, but you’re also looking at 143 BB. He’ll be very good down the road, but right now he’s destined for AAA until Towers/Chacin implode (probably in late-May/June).

Of the other young starters who have the stuff to be #1s or #2s down the road: Gavin Floyd and Justin Verlander. Verlander was throwing 98-99 mph 2-seamers in his debut, and guys were taking him the other way. When he calms down he’ll start putting up serious numbers (104:19 K:BB last year in the FSL, 0.55 WHIP in 32 AA innings). Floyd has the worst command I’ve ever seen, but could learn to throw strikes. I doubt anyone in your league wants to take a chance on his 17:16 K:BB, but when he gets the Roy Halladay treatment he’ll be worth Roy Halladay dollars.

Either way, I wouldn’t recommend Olsen, Vargas, or Foppert: Olsen’s stuff is incredibly overrated. He doesn’t throw 97 likes the mags say (more like 90-91). And Vargas is a soft-tosser. Plus they both play for the newly-decimated Marlins.

As for Foppert: I’ve been trying to warn people about him for the past 3 years (from the first day he was called up to San Fran). His K:BB last year was 6:13 (41:27 at AAA). His fastball is completely gone, and he’s going to have to finesse it from here on out. I don’t know how he’s throwing right now, but he was hitting 89 last season.