Who has the biggest upside? - Question revised

by mjd2112 on Feb 17, 2026 1:33 PM EST Comment 64 comments

Based purely on upside (ignoring the possibility of injury and the TINSTAAPP philosphy), how would you rank the following players? I am in a replay (not fantasy) league and have a high draft pick (5th overall) in our upcoming draft (this Saturday). My philosophy is to select the BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE regardless of position (so defense also comes into play). So, given that... I want to know what you (the informed community) think about the players "upside" potential. Wieters will go #1 and a highly doubt I will have any shot at him. I am curious what you all think about the players behind Wieters... specifically in the 2 - 7 range.

Matt Wieters

Brett Anderson (thank you for the correction)

Colby Rasmus

Gordon Beckham

Elvis Andrus

Andrew McCutchen

Madison Bumgarner

Tommy Hansen

Rick Porcello

Neftali Feliz

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wieters

"mark kotsay for $1.5 million. or jim thome for $1.5 million.
gosh. i’m going to have to think about this one for a bit." larry

"We're gonna do this f*ucking thing over again cuz I just f*cked it up.....oh, we're live, I didn't know that" Bert Blyleven

by smoooooth on Feb 17, 2026 1:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Uhhh....

Probably Weiters. Feliz 2nd.

by nivarsity on Feb 17, 2026 1:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hanson, I bet my car he is a Cy-Young candidate after the season.
1. Hanson( and i’m not saying this cause i love the Braves)
2. Wieters
3. Neftali
4. McCutchen
5. Andrus

"Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon"- The Hangover

by atlantalove on Feb 17, 2026 1:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

what kind of car?

by miraclemets on Feb 17, 2026 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

’05 Lexus, SUV

"Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon"- The Hangover

by atlantalove on Feb 17, 2026 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

100,000+ miles BUT in good condition

"Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon"- The Hangover

by atlantalove on Feb 17, 2026 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

will you ship it?

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Feb 17, 2026 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Holy shit

5 years old with 100k+ miles? Man, you drive that thing into the ground, don’t you?

by Lunkwill Fook on Feb 18, 2026 11:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Drove cross country from Athens to Oakland a couple times

"Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon"- The Hangover

by atlantalove on Feb 18, 2026 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

by daveh33 on Feb 17, 2026 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ARE YOU F'N SERIOUS?!?!?!

Not about Hanson being that good, but the 3-5 order you have. Feliz I kind of see (not really tho) at number 2, but Cutch and Andrus (Come Friggin ON!!!) 4&5!!!

No way you can see them better than Anderson (for sure) and even Porcello, Beckham and Rasmus.

Anderson is on the same level as Hanson (you can argue for either guy), Rasmus who projects as a OB/SLG/+Def in CF guy) and Beckham pretty much the same as Rasmus only with a better showing in the MLB already.

I know Cutch had a pretty good rookie season, but I don’t see him improving much if any with the bat (over his rookie season numbers). I’m not saying he’s not good but we’re comparing him to elite prospects here and the question was who’s upside is best and potential to reach it.

by Berserk on Feb 18, 2026 1:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd go...

Weiters
Anderson
Hanson
Beckham
Porcello
Feliz
Rasmus
McCutchen
Andrus

by Berserk on Feb 18, 2026 1:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

McCutchen could become one of the best leadoff hitters in the MLB. Better than Anderson for sure. I’m not a huge fan of Porcello. Beckham i’ll sgree with you that he is better than Andrus

"Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon"- The Hangover

by atlantalove on Feb 18, 2026 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Look, by saying

McCutchen could become one of the best leadoff hitters and predicting the 20-40 seasons puts him in Ricky Henderson territory. It’s almost as elusive as comparing Feliz to Pedro. I don’t believe McCutchen will hit for that power. I can see him playing much like Lofton which is absolutely nothing to scoff at.

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Feb 18, 2026 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My bad Brett Anderson is very good, i was thinking of Brian Andersn that OF on CHISOX, ok nevermind he is better than McCutchen

"Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon"- The Hangover

by atlantalove on Feb 18, 2026 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Most polished now

Beckham seems like he’s polished and ready to crush now.

Wieters has the most hype (not necessarily a bad thing).

Feliz could be at top of list, but also the bottom if he is relegated to middle relief again this year.

by DodgersBacktoBrooklyn2011 on Feb 17, 2026 2:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

My issue with Beckham,

is that I really don’t see him getting too much better… The more I read about him, it seems like he’s starting to gain too much hype for what he is. If he’s at 3rd, his value is lower considerably as I don’t think he’s got the bat to hit greater than 25 hr. I see him getting better a touch with his BA and OBP, but I’m not so sure he gets too much better with SLG.

For me the list goes:
Wieters
Feliz
Hanson
Anderson
Rasmus
McCutchen
Beckham
Porcello
Andrus

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Feb 18, 2026 11:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he's at 2B. That's settled

They signed Teahen for 3 years.

I can really see Beckham getting better across the board for a few years. I really like him.

by alskor on Feb 18, 2026 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ditto

by daveh33 on Feb 18, 2026 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not saying I don't like him,

but I’m tempered by the amount that people believe he’ll develop… It’s almost as though people are putting him in Chase Utley territory.

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Feb 19, 2026 5:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Say it with me...

Neftali Feliz.

We have read all sorts of comparisons to Pedro thanks to him being a diminutive Dominican, but he has somewhat comparable “stuff” to Pedro as well. If the command improves a ton, and the secondary stuff improves a ton, he very well could be the second coming of one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball.

Noone else on the list has that kind of upside.

by guru4u on Feb 17, 2026 2:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

word

by daveh33 on Feb 17, 2026 5:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd argue Wieters has that upside.

He’s got the tools (TOOLS, mind you) to be one of the best offensive catchers ever.

by PissedMick on Feb 17, 2026 6:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is an apples and oranges comparison

But you do have a valid point. I just did not factor Wieters into the discussion because of the OP’s comment:

I want to know what you (the informed community) think about the players “upside” potential. Wieters will go #1 and a highly doubt I will have any shot at him. I am curious what you all think about the players behind Wieters… specifically in the 2 - 7 range.

by guru4u on Feb 18, 2026 7:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and if my aunt had balls she would be my uncle

by pedrophile on Feb 17, 2026 10:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

dude

this is a thread about upside. Feliz has a pitch that very few can come close to.
I love Hanson too, but I honestly think Feliz has the best arm in a good while.

by daveh33 on Feb 18, 2026 12:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

best arm <> highest velocity

and when talking upside if there is no chance of someone reaching it then is it really upside?

by pedrophile on Feb 18, 2026 7:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

how is there 'no chance'?

i believe this is an ‘all else being equal’ thread, asking about upside. I think Feliz, with dat pitch, and the possibility that his secondary stuff comes along, has the best upside.

by daveh33 on Feb 18, 2026 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

based on that logic

any pitcher could gain 20 lbs, increase flexibility, copy lincecums windup, learn new pitches, and become the best pitcher ever. So why not say they all have the same upside?

It’s because it’s upside with a touch of reality. Anything is possible. But possible <> upside.

by pedrophile on Feb 18, 2026 5:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

are you sure

shim isn’t?

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Feb 18, 2026 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Totally forgot about Teahen,

Even then, I think the three (Rasmus, McCutchen, Beckham) are interchangeable…

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Feb 18, 2026 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I dont know what a "replay" league is.

So Im going to answer this for real life, since you say defense matters…

The biggest issue is whether we are talking just for 2010 or for the long term.

Just for 2010
Matt Wieters
Gordon Beckham
Tommy Hanson
Brian Anderson (I assume you mean BRETT)
Colby Rasmus
Elvis Andrus
Andrew McCutchen
Rick Porcello
Neftali Feliz
Madison Bumgarner

Long Term
Matt Wieters
Neftali Feliz
Gordon Beckham
Tommy Hanson
Colby Rasmus
Andrew McCutchen
Elvis Andrus
Brett Anderson
Rick Porcello
Madison Bumgarner

by alskor on Feb 17, 2026 2:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't know what a replay league is...

Perhaps to better describe it… it is a simulation league using the Diamond Mind baseball game (http://www.diamond-mind.com/). So we play a 160 game season, we have playoffs, etc…

I have the 5th and 19th picks in our rookie draft. So I am trying to target the player with the most upside (regardless of position. I plan on taking the best player available though my needs are CF and 2b)

Interesting I am a bit higher on Anderson than Hanson… and not quite as high on Rasmus. I originally considered drafting Anderson there but have been giving Beckham more consideration.

I am hoping a guy like Matusz slides to 19.

by mjd2112 on Feb 17, 2026 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Do you hold on to the players for multiple years...?

Or is it a one year thing, or one at a time redraft…?

by alskor on Feb 17, 2026 3:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes.. we keep the players

Once you draft a player he is yours to keep, trade or waive… there is no redrafting. The draft includes all rookies (that satisfy a set of criteria) and free agents (players not on a roster at the end of the previous season).

by mjd2112 on Feb 17, 2026 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I actually think Hanson has the most upside for this season. I think he will be a CY contender this season. But long term Wieters will be the guy. AND why isn’t Priceon this list?

"Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon"- The Hangover

by atlantalove on Feb 18, 2026 11:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this is close to mine

though i’m not sure i’d have Cutch or Rasmus quite as high or Porcello so low.

The 2008 Rogelio Moret League Fantasy Baseball Champions!

by The Congo Hammer on Feb 17, 2026 10:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Matthew Richard Wieters

http://www.mattwietersfacts.com/

by valley on Feb 17, 2026 2:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

outside of doing something dumb like taking Bumgarner

you really can’t go wrong, i don’t think.

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Feb 17, 2026 2:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You absolutely can

Bum or Andrus would be terrible picks. They do not come close to the rest of the guys listed. And you can’t make a bad pick after them but you can make bad choice in the sense that some players are slightly ahead of the others.

by Berserk on Feb 18, 2026 1:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wieters

I’d say he has the most upside. After that, again purely upside … I’d say Feliz but for the type of league you’re talking about I’d rather take Anderson or Hanson, who are safer bets with ceilings that aren’t dramatically lower. I wouldn’t consider anyone else listed as being quite on the same level as those 4 (Wieters, Feliz, Anderson, Hanson) but that’s less a criticism of those players than it is high praise for the first 4.

by jayjay on Feb 17, 2026 3:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Feliz cant hold Hanson's jock

Hanson has 3 plus pitches already, and his changeup is coming along an could be a 4th down the road. He has Halladay/Lincecum type upside. He has the best curveball/slider combo of any recent young pitcher. Feliz does not have greater upside.

by bravitos5122 on Feb 17, 2026 3:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't get me wrong

If we factor in the risk of getting to that upside, I’d rather have Hanson. Hanson is a better pitcher right now.

If we are talking purely upside though, saying Feliz does not have greater upside is just plain blind homerism.

by guru4u on Feb 17, 2026 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by alskor on Feb 17, 2026 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Also, Halladay/Lincecum upside? Those are two totally different pitchers. And, IMO, Hanson is not really similar to either…

by Dfarth on Feb 17, 2026 5:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yea completly different. Hanson is more like Lincecum, he’s nothing like Doc though.

"Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon"- The Hangover

by atlantalove on Feb 18, 2026 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When did upside suddenly start equaling FB velocity for pitchers?

That’s honestly the only reason I could see for ranking Feliz’s upside as higher than Hanson’s. Hanson already has 2 breaking pitches that arguably rate as plus-plus. Feliz has an inconsistent breaking ball that flashes plus potential. Feliz still has a ways to go in order to have one breaking pitch that is as good as both of Hanson’s. The chance of him developing another one after that is minuscule.

by nixa37 on Feb 17, 2026 10:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's change that 1st sentence to clarify

That’s honestly the only reason I could see for ~~ranking Feliz’s upside as higher than Hanson’s~~ saying blind homerism is the only way to think that Feliz doesn’t have better upside than Hanson.

by nixa37 on Feb 17, 2026 10:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

best curveball/slider combo?

I believe on Clayton Kershaw would like to have a word with you…

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Feb 17, 2026 7:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

one*

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Feb 17, 2026 7:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You can make an argument for Kershaw

I’d still go with Hanson though. He uses them much more often than Kershaw does (38.3% to 24.1%) and actually posted significantly higher pitch values with them (per fangraphs) despite having a lesser fastball to work off of. I think given the choice I’d take Kershaw’s FB/CB/SL combo over Hanson’s, but I’d take Hanson’s SL/CB over Kershaw’s.

by nixa37 on Feb 17, 2026 10:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

its because

kershaw JUST introduced his slider in the last 6 or 7 starts of the season…

by matthewmafa on Feb 18, 2026 9:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hadn't realized he added the slider this season

He definitely didn’t throw it at all early in the year, though looking through his starts he did start dabbling with the slider much earlier than you’re implying. Looking at his June 4th start against the Phillies for example, there appear to be 10-11 pitches that are definitely the pitch that would become his slider.

http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxg.aspx?playerid=2036&position=P&season=2009&date=2009-06-04&dh=0

Still the late introduction doesn’t affect Hanson’s advantage in pitch value rate. Well that might not be entirely true as it may have taken time for Kershaw to harness the new pitch, while Hanson started throwing his slider in June 2008 so that may explain some of the difference. The bigger point to make though is that Hanson’s curveball appears to be much better than Kershaw’s. It was worth an extra .82 runs per 100 thrown and was essentially one of the 5 or 6 best among ML starters last season in terms of that measure.

by nixa37 on Feb 18, 2026 10:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i think it was more of a 'slurve'

and then it became full-on ‘slider’ towards the end. but i’m not 100% on that.

by daveh33 on Feb 18, 2026 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds a lot like Feliz.

by alskor on Feb 18, 2026 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Matt Wieters or Neftali Feliz

You could make a good case for most of these guys.

www.oriolesprospects.com | twitter @orioleprospects

by ravensfan3 on Feb 17, 2026 7:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wieters, he can become the next Mauer

"Tigers love pepper... they hate cinnamon"- The Hangover

by atlantalove on Feb 18, 2026 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wieters

I’d take Wieters. A poll would have been interesting with this one.

by FI2 on Feb 17, 2026 7:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

My Opinion in Upside

Feliz-Martinez in pure upside, chances of reaching it 20%
Hanson-Right now is a John Lackey but could be a Halladay
McCutchen-Honestly I think he’s going to be the next Star Centerfielder in Baseball, many 25-40 years and a few 30-30 years. He has some of the best bat speed next to the Upton brothers and is more refined at 22 than B.J ever has been.

by Bravesin07 on Feb 17, 2026 8:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs