The Rangers can only hope one of their pitching prospects reaches the elite level.

Nothing could be more unfair for a prospect than to be compared with an established All-Star.

So, Rangers left-hander Derek Holland should strive to be himself and not some great southpaw who can reach 95 mph with his fastball and hold opponents' batting averages around the Mendoza Line.

Like, say, Scott Kazmir of the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays.

"I've been compared to Kazmir. It's just a comparison," Holland said. "I don't think I'm him. I just go out and do what I have to do."

Likewise, Neftali Feliz needs to be the first Neftali Feliz, not the next (insert great right-hander here).

Now, that's not to say they shouldn't set goals to be as good as one of the top starting pitchers in baseball, like the 10 listed below.

"When I was growing up, I wanted to be [Greg] Maddux and [Tom] Glavine combined," Holland said. "Now that I'm older, I want to be like [Johan] Santana and [Andy] Pettitte combined."

Rumors of Santana's demise in the Big Apple have been greatly exaggerated. Look at what he has averaged the past five seasons: 17 wins, a 2.82 ERA and 238 strikeouts. His bad year? 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA. That's awfully good.

This guy might pitch until he's 45. He's in terrific shape – this generation's Nolan Ryan – and he keeps things simple with two different fastballs. Halladay, 31, eats innings like Kobayashi eats hot dogs, and finds success in a hitter's paradise.

The free-agent prize of the off-season now wears pinstripes and carries the burden that comes with it. But Sabathia is big enough (6-7, 290 pounds) and good enough (48-28, 3.03 ERA the past three seasons) to take the reins as the ace.

The reigning NL Cy Young winner is only 24. He struck out 265, the most in the majors, for a fourth-place team. His frame (5-11, 160) wouldn't suggest those numbers, but he's quickly become a special player.

His sinker is as heavy as a bowling ball, and his win total last season (22) came with a team that was barely above .500. He doesn't strike out a ton (no 200-strikeout seasons), but he chews up innings and wins.

How good would the Cubs' pitching staff be had they successfully traded for the 2007 NL Cy Young winner? Peavy had some arm issues last year, but he's usually good for 200-plus innings and 200-plus strikeouts.

His numbers, with half his starts at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park, are impressive – except maybe wins. More of those will come as he develops a third pitch to go with his four-seam fastball and changeup. He's just 25.

The Aledo resident has started fewer than 24 games twice in his career – last year, because of a triceps strain, and as a rookie (18). His pitches (fastball, slider, curve, changeup) are hard to read and hard to hit, as his win totals illustrate.

He gives the Diamondbacks the best 1-2 punch in baseball (along with Webb). He established career bests in wins (16), strikeouts (206) and average against (.251) last season, and has proved to be durable as he enters his prime years.

He had another terrific season despite having a 5-plus ERA six weeks into the campaign. He has logged 200 innings with an ERA below 4.00 in five straight seasons. A 95-mph fastball and a curveball in the 70s continue to baffle hitters.