Around the NL: Seven year plan

Below is my 30-man roster of players, currently in control of National League teams, who I would do battle with not only in 2007, but also in 2013. The parameters are that the players must have been born in 1982 or later, meaning they were age 25 or younger at the beginning of 2007. Projecting that far out can be a tricky endeavor at best. We’ll check back in seven years to evaluate our evaluations.

Starting Pitchers
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia
Most evidence point to this Al-Star as the team’s ace. He currently leads the NL in strikeouts.

Matt Cain, San Francisco
Cain will turn 23 in October, but has 351 major league innings to his credit. For his brief career he has held big league hitters to a .219 average.

Chad Billingsley, Los Angels Dodgers
The Dodgers’ future ace is 6-0 so far this season with a 3.26 ERA. Hitters are batting just .215 in 2007.

Tom Gorzelanny, Pittsburgh
Of the three lefties in the Pirates’ rotation — Paul Maholm and Zach Duke the others — Gorzelanny has been the most consistent this season.

Tim Lincecum, San Francisco
The Giants’ first-round pick in 2006, Lincecum joined the big league club this season and has not been overmatched.

Dontrelle Willis, Florida
By the time you read this he may be with another organization. While we don’t consider him to be a No. 1 starter, we see him as a solid No. 3 for the next 10 seasons. And yes, he was born in January, 1982.

Max Scherzer, Arizona
A top pick in 2006, Scherzer has excelled in the minors and is considered one of the best prospects in the NL.

Greg Reynolds, Colorado
Already settled in at class AA, there is no rush to get Reynolds to the Show. But he should be ready to join the Rockies' rotation by 2009 at the latest.

Relief Pitchers
Tony Peña, Arizona
Peña should have been on the All-Star team this season. Already one of the best setup men in the game, the 25-year-old Peña throws in the upper 90s.

Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles
The talented Dodger is probably LA’s closer in the near future.

Closers
Chad Cordero, Washington
Already attained status among the elite closers in the league, Cordero shows no signs of washing out anytime soon.

Matt Capps, Pittsburgh
He may not be a closer on this team — or even for the Pirates — in seven years. But we believe he’ll be reliable out of the pen for years to come.

Casey Weathers, Colorado
Our biggest risk on the staff, but the eighth pick overall this summer is on the fast track for Rockies. He’ll likely be in the bigs in September.

Catchers
Brian McCann, Atlanta
When he’s hot, he has a pure hitting stroke from the left side.

Russell Martin, Los Angeles
Like McCann, Martin is an All-Star and poised to be a star in this league for many years.

Jarod Saltalamacchia, Atlanta
The Braves will refuse to trade Saltalamacchia even though McCann will not be supplanted. His bat will keep him in the big leagues, perhaps at another position. So he’s a logical choice as our third catcher.

Infielders
Prince Fielder, Milwaukee
The leader at the moment for NL MVP honors, Fielder appears to have a long, productive career ahead of him.

Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego
A professional hitter who would have better numbers playing more games outside of PetCo Park. Not a bad insurance policy at first base.

Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee
The Brewers just keep popping up on this list. Weeks has been a disappointment for the past two seasons, primarily due to injuries, Kelly Johnson is the only other true candidate at second base.

David Wright, New York
One of favorites on this roster to eventually make the Hall of Fame. He has all the tools, the work ethic, the personality and determination to be a star.

Miguel Cabrera, Florida
While a third baseman now, he may ultimately move across the diamond or even back to the outfield. But his bat is feared and getting better.

Ryan Zimmerman, Washington
The youngster can rake and his numbers will bear that out once he moves out of the expanse of RFK Stadium.

Ryan Braun, Milwaukee
We chose Braun over teammate J.J. Hardy because we think he’ll be a better hitter. Because of his glove, he may move to the outfield.

Hanley Ramirez, Florida
We think he is a “can’t miss” star. He has some pop, can run and scores a ton of runs. Not a bad glove either.

Jose Reyes, New York
He may actually start ahead of Ramirez on this team. Either way, we have a terrific shortstop and leadoff man.

Outfielders
Jeff Francoeur, Atlanta
The outfield may be the weakest area on this team — at least the most difficult to read. Francoeur drives in runs and is maturing as a hitter. We wish he would show a little more patience, but impatience is working pretty well for him so far.

Hunter Pence, Houston
He may not be as good as he appears, but what an appearance! He may win a batting title, and could have 40 doubles, 10 triples and 25 homers — this season.

Corey Hart, Milwaukee
Is there any wonder why the Brewers are on top of the Central? They may be there from now until 2013.

Tony Gwynn, Jr, Milwaukee
He may not bat .390 like his dad, or even amass 3,000 hits. Or, he just may. A spot in the Brewers’ potent lineup hasn’t opened up yet. When it does, he’ll be ready to be a perennial .300 hitter.

Chris Young, Arizona
A brilliant five-tool potential star, has not yet hit for average, but we believe he will.

Painful to Omit
Yusmeiro Petit, Arizona
Sean Marshall, Chicago
Michael Bourn, Philadelphia
Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
Andre Ethier, Los Angeles
Matt Kemp, Los Angeles
Stephen Drew, Arizona
Yadier Molina, St. Louis
Jeremy Hermida, Florida
Conor Jackson, Arizona
Andy LaRoche, Los Angeles

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