Chad James
Rumors

Chad James, the 18th overall pick in the 2009 draft, has agreed to a contract with the Florida Marlins that has a $1.7M signing bonus. The MLB recommendation for his slot is $1.58M.

The deadline to sign 2009 MLB draft picks is August 17th. For an update on the status of first round draft picks, click here.

The August 17th deadline to sign plays from the 2009 MLB Draft is fast approaching. We'll use this page to update the signing status of all the first round picks.

The deadline for players to sign is August 17, 2009

1. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals - Despite speculation that he would not signed, agreed to a $15M contract. (updated 8/17/09)
2. Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners - Agreed to a $7.5M signing bonus. (updated 8/17/09)
3. Donovan Tate, San Diego Padres - Instead of going back to UNC to play football, signed a contract with a 6.25M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09)
4. Tony Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates - Signed a well-publicized contract before the draft
5. Matt Hobgood, Baltimore Orioles - Signed a contract
6. Zach Wheeler, San Francisco Giant - Signed for $3.3M (updated 8/17/09)
7. Mike Minor, Atlanta Braves - Signed a contract with a record $2.42M signing bonus (updated 8/8/09)
8. Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds - Agreed to a $2.2M contract (updated 8/15/09)
9. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers - Received a Rick Porcello-like signing bonus of $5.5M (updated 8/17/09)
10. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals - Signed a contract
11. Tyler Matzek, Colorado Rockies - Rumors were that it would take a lot of money to keep Matzek away from Oregon: signed for $3.3M (updated 8/17/09)
12. Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals - Agreed to a $3M contract with the Royals (updated 9/21/09)
13. Grant Green, Oakland As - Agreed to a $2.75M signing bonus (updated 8/15/09)
14. Matt Purke, Texas Rangers - Decided to go to college instead of signing with the Rangers (updated 8/17/09)
15. Alex White, Cleveland Indians - Got a bit less than Minor, $2.25M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09)
16. Bobby Borchering, Arizona Diamondbacks - Agreed to a contract with a $1.8M signing bonus (updated 8/15/09)
17. AJ Pollock, Arizona Diamondbacks - Signed a contract
18. Chad James, Florida Marlins - Agreed to a $1.7M contract (updated 8/15/09)
19. Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals - Inked a $2.875M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09).
20. Chad Jenkins, Toronto Blue Jays - Signed for $1.359M (updated 8/15/09)
21. Jiovanni Mier, Houston Astros - Signed a contract
22. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins - Signed a $1.8M contract (updated 8/17/09)
23. Jared Mitchell, Chicago White Sox -Signed a contract
24. Randal Grichuk, Los Angeles Angels -Signed a contract
25. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels - Signed a contract
26. Eric Arnett, Milwaukee Brewers - Signed a contract
27. Nick Franklin, Seattle Mariners - Signed for $1.28M (updated 8/15/09)
28. Reymond Fuentes, Boston Red Sox - Signed a contract
29. Slade Heathcott, New York Yankees - Agreed to a $2.2M signing bonus (updated 8/17/09)
30. LeVon Washington, Tampa Bay Rays - Ultimately did not sign with the Rays (updated 8/17/09)
31. Brett Jackson, Chicago Cubs - Signed a contract
32. Tim Wheeler, Colorado Rockies - Signed a contract

• Chuck Finder of The Pittsburgh Post Gazette says that the Pirates reached for Tony Sanchez.  I think everyone realizes that they did, but the pick was a financial one: he'll sign for less.
• The Diamondbacks had eight picks in the first three rounds - Bobby Borchering and AJ Pollock in the first round - and hope they will mine some impact players writes Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic.
• Jerry Brewer of The Seattle Times believes that Dustin Ackley was the right pick for Seattle.  I don't think anyone is going to argue with that.  Buster Olney of espn.com thinks that the top of the Mariners order could go 1. Ichiro Suzuki, 2. Ackley by 2011.
• The Padres aimed to draft ahtletic players with their early 2009 draft picks says Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune.  Donovan Tate certainly fits that bill.
• By drafting Tyler Matzek the Rockies now have to make sure he doesn't go to Oregon for college.  It could cost them writes Irv Moss of The Denver Post.
• The Blue Jays are very impressed with their first round draft picks', Chad Jenkins, stuff, according to Richard Griffin of The Toronto Star.
• Minnesota took a gamble on Kyle Gibson who ended his season with a stress fracture in his forearm says La Velle Neal of The Minneapolis Star Tribune.
• Jared Mitchell has a high ceiling for the White Sox hopes Joe Cowley from The Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Red Sox hope that Reymond Fuentes has a similar career path to Jacoby Ellsbury writes Sean McAdam for the Boston Hearld.
• The Ranges have not been afraid to spend money on their draft picks recently and Kevin Sherrington of The Dallas Morning News notes that 2009 was no different.
• Marlins first round draft pick Chad James hopes he's on the major league roster in three years.
• LeVon Washington, the Rays first round draft picks, is ready to sign.
• The Orioles are not worried that Matt Hobgood was not rated as high as they had him in the 2009 draft.
• While Mike Trout (#24 to the Angels) was at the MLB studios at the draft, Stephen Strasburg watched the broadcast from his couch.

Here's a review of the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft.

1. Washington Nationals - Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State University
2. Seattle Mariners - Dustin Ackley, OF, UNC
3. San Diego Padres - Donovan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS, GA
4. Pittsburgh Pirates - Tony Sanchez, C, Boston College
5. Baltimore Orioles - Matt Hobgood, RHP, Norco HS, CA
6. San Francisco Giants - Zach Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS, GA
7. Atlanta Braves - Mike Minor, LHP, Vanderbilt
8. Cincinnati Reds - Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State
9. Detroit Tigers - Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminster Christian Academy, MO
10. Washington Nationals - Drew Storen, RHP, Stanford
11. Colorado Rockies - Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS, CA
12. Kansas City Royals - Aaron Crow, LHP, Fort Worth Cats
13. Oakland As - Grant Green, SS, USC
14. Texas Rangers - Matt Purke, LHP, Klein HS, TX
15. Cleveland Indians - Alex White, RHP, UNC
16. Arizona Diamondbacks - Bobby Borchering, Bishop Verot HS, FL
17. Arizona Diamondbacks - AJ Pollock, OF, Notre Dame
18. Florida Marlins - Chad James, LHP, Yukon HS, OK
19. St. Louis Cardinals - Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood HS, TX
20. Toronto Blue Jays - Chad Jenkins, RHP, Kennesaw State
21. Houston Astros - Jiovanni Mier, SS, Bonita HS, CA
22. Minnestoa Twins - Kyle Gibson, RHP, Missouri
23. Chicago White Sox - Jared Mitchell, CF, LSU
24. Los Angeles Angels - Randal Grichuk, LF, Lamar Cons HS, TX
25. Los Angeles Angels - Mike Trout, CF, Millville Sr. HS, NJ
26. Milwaukee Brewers - Eric Arnett, RHP, Indiana
27. Seattle Mariners - Nick Franklin, SS, Lake Brantley HS, FL
28. Boston Red Sox - Reymond Fuentes, CF, Fernando Callejo HS, CA
29. New York Yankees - Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas HS, TX
30. Tampa Bay Rays - LeVon Washington, 2B, Buchholz HS, FL
31. Chicago Cubs - Brett Jackson, CF, University of California - Berkeley
32. Colorado Rockies - Tim Wheeler, OF, Cal State - Sacramento

For Picks 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 21-26 and 27-32 click on the links.

7:27pm With the sixteenth pick of the 2009 MLB Draft the Arizona Diamondbacks select Bobby Borchering.  The Diamondbacks remain on the clock.

7:29pm The Diamondbacks had been interested in Borchering for a while and were just hoping he'd get past the Rockies at 11.  Rumor had it that the Diamondbacks would take Matt Davidson with Borchering, so let's see what they do.

7:31pm With the seventeenth pick of the 2009 MLB Draft the Arizona Diamondbacks select AJ Pollock.  The Marlins are now on the clock.

7:32pm Well, we got half of the Diamondbacks two picks correct.  Borchering was right, but Arizona grabbed Pollock instead of Davidson.

7:34pm Baseball Rumor Mill Best Available: Shelby Miller, Jared Mitchell, Mike Trout

7:36pm With the eighteenth pick of the 2009 MLB Draft the Florida Marlins select Chad James.  The Cardinals are now on the clock.

7:37pm The Marlins played their cards very close to the vest and it seemed to be anyone's guess who they'd take with #18.  The one thing we did know was that they were going after a pitcher.  The real question now is what's wrong with Shelby Miller that's causing him to slip?

7:39pm One player the Cardinals were looking at here was AJ Pollock, but he's now gone.  Perhaps Josh Phegley?  Maybe Rex Brothers?  Or maybe Miller has fallen into their lap.

7:41pm With the nineteenth pick of the 2009 MLB Draft the St. Louis Cardinals select Shelby Miller.  The Blue Jays are on the clock.

7:42pm Keith Law and Jason Churchill love Miller and Churchill says he'll be less expensive than many of his peers.  Throws very hard, 98mph.  I do not think the Cardinals were expecting this.

7:45pm With the twentieth pick of the 2009 MLB Draft the Toronto Blue Jays select Chad Jenkins.  The Houston Astros are on the clock.

The espn.com draft team of Keith Law and Jason Churchill have five (yes, FIVE!) draft updates for us today.  You can find each of them here, here, here, here and here.  We'll summarize them for you in one convenient location...below.

• The Pirates are interested in Tony Sanchez, Zach Wheeler, Matt Hobgood and Grant Green.
• Law likes the following: Wheeler to Baltimore, Tyler Matzek to San Francisco and Alex White to Atlanta. 
• The Braves like Matt Purke but don't want to pay him over slot.
• Atlanta's choice is between White and Mike Minor.  Churchill thinks Drew Storen is in the mix at #7 too.
• The Reds would like Minor, but if the Braves take him Chad Jenkins and Storen are options for them.
• Jenkins and Storen are also options for the Nationals at #10
• Churchill says that is Storen gets past the Nationals at #10, he might fall all the way out of the first round.  The Angels and Mariners like him, but likely do not have him high enough on their draft boards to select him in the 20s.  The Twins have some interest in Storen, but prefer Billy Bullock.
• Bobby Borchering may be the favorite to the Rockies at #11, even over Hobgood.
• If the Rockies do take Borchering at #11, the Diamondbacks will take AJ Pollock and Matt Davidson with their picks at 16 and 17.
• If Kansas City takes Mike Leake with #12 - and indications are that they are seriously considering it - Oakland would then choose between Green, Mike Trout and possibly Donovan Tate.
• Max Stassi worked out for the Red Sox this morning.
• St. Louis is rumored be interested in Purke.
• Detroit might not want to spend the money that Purke and Jacob Turner are rumored to be demanding.  If so, Rex Brothers and Chad James become options for them at #9.  The Tigers have also been linked to Borchering, Mike Trout and Reymond Fuentes.
• The Padres like Donovan Tate at #3, but if they feel they can't afford him, they'll go with Wheeler.  That would mean the Orioles take Hobgood.

Finally, Keith Law's latest Top 15.

1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
2. Dustin Ackley, Mariners
3. Tate, Padres
4. Sanchez, Pirates
5. Wheeler, Orioles
6. Matzek, Giants
7. White, Braves
8. Minor, Reds
9. Turner, Tigers
10. Storen, Nationals
11. Borchering, Rockies
12. Leake, Royals
13. Green, As
14. Shelby Miller, Rangers
15. Brothers or Eric Arnett, Indians

Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com has given us a number of mock drafts over the past month which can all be viewed here.  For his mock draft prior to this one, click here.

But, those are all in the past.  Let's get to his most recent mock draft published this morning.

1. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
2. Dustin Ackley, Mariners
3. Donovan Tate, Padres (last week, Mike Minor)
4. Aaron Crow, Pirates
5. Zach Wheeler, Orioles
6. Tyler Matzerk, Giants
7. Alex White, Braves (last week, Shelby Miller)
8. Mike Minor, Reds (last week, Mike Leake)
9. Matt Purke, Tigers (last week, Jacob Turner)
10. Drew Storen, Nationals
11. Mike Leake, Rockies (last week, Rex Brothers)
12. Wil Myers, Royals (last week, Kyle Gibson)
13. Grant Green (last week, Tanner Scheppers)
14. Shelby Miller, Rangers
15. Eric Arnett, Indians
16. Rex Brothers, Diamondbacks (last week, AJ Pollock)
17. Bobby Borchering, Diamondbacks
18. Chad James, Marlins (last week, Chad Jenkins)
19. Chad Jenkins, Cardinals (last week, Grant Green)
20. Tim Wheeler, Blue Jays (last week, Everett Williams)
21. Jared Mitchell, Astros
22. Matt Hobgood, Twins
23. Everett Williams, White Sox (last week, Mike Trout)
24. Mike Trout, Angels (last week, Garret Gould)
25. Jiovanni Mier, Angels (last week, Matt Purke)
26. Garret Gould, Brewers (last week, Matt Davidson)
27. Tanner Scheppers, Mariners (last week Tony Sanchez)
28. Jacob Turner, Red Sox (last week, Max Stassi)
29. Brett Jackson, Yankees
30. Tommy Joseph, Rays (last week, Jiovanni Mier)
31. AJ Pollock, Cubs (last week, Tim Wheeler)
32. Kyle Gibson, Rockies (last week, Slade Heathcott)

Jason Churchill of espn.com breaks down the best, well, everything for the draft on Tuesday.  Below is a sample of some of the categories

Best Fastball
High School: Jacob Turner
College: Stephen Strasburg
Notable: Billy Bullock

Best Curveball
High School: Chad James
College: Stephen Strasburg
Notable: Ben Tootle

Best Slider
High School: (tie) Tyler Matzek and Zach Wheeler
College: Aaron Crow
Notable: Rex Brothers

Best Changeup
High School: Tyler Matzek
College: (tie) Kyle Gibson and Mike Minor
Notable: Aaron Crow

Best Command/Control
High School: Tyler Matzek
College: Stephen Strasburg
Notable: Mike Leake

Best Hitter (Avg)
High School: Matt Davidson
College: Dustin Ackley

Best Power Hitter
High School: (tie) Matt Davidson and Max Stassi
College: Dustin Ackley

Best Athlete
High School: Donovan Tate
College: Jared Mitchell

Jason Churchill of espn.com gives us a few questions that teams need to answer, internally, before Tuesday's draft.

1. Do the Pirates take Aaron Crow or Kyle Gibson?  One scout feels that Crow is the better arm, but Gibson is a safer pick and is more signable.  Gibson's forearm stiffness could scare teams.
2. The Reds could have a number of talented arms to pick from with the 8th pick: Tanner Scheppers, Tyler Matzek, Shelby Miller or Zach Wheeler (though many think Wheeler will be taken by the Braves at #7).
3. While Stephen Strasburg is obvious to the Nationals at #1, the decision the team will have to make is between Drew Storen and Chad James at #10.

Notes

• If the Nationals do not take Storen, the Angles would love to see him fall to them at #23.
• The Diamondbacks are hoping Grant Green gets to them at #16, but one of Kansas City (#12), Oakland (#13) and Cleveland (#15) are presumed to select him before Arizona has a chance.
• If the Angels get Storen with their first pick, they will take Reymond Fuentes with their second pick of the 23/24 sandwich they have.  Detroit at #9 is also a possibility to take Fuentes.

Keith Law of espn.com put together possible Top 10 draft board based on rumors he's heard in the last 24 hours along with other news and notes about the draft.

1. Nationals - Stephen Strasburg
2. Mariners - Tanner Scheppers
3. Padres - Dustin Ackley
4. Pirates - Tony Sanchez
5. Orioles - Aaron Crow
6. Giants - Tim Wheeler
7. Braves - Alex White
8. Reds - Tyler Matzek
9. Tigers - Jacob Turner
10. Nationals - Kyle Gibson

This example has the Mariners passing on Ackley, which seems unlikely, but it'd drastically change the draft.  Law has also heard that the Giants prefer a college position player to a high school pitcher.

More Rumors

• Scouts from the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Phillies were down in Texarkana to watch outfielder Slade Heathcott play.  The Diamondbacks first pick is #16 while the Yankees first pick at #29.  The Phillies do not have a pick until #75 and Heathcott is unlikely to last that long.
• Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington was in Boston recently to see Tony Sanchez play for Boston College.  They pick #4 and #49 and Sanchez is not going to make it to 49, so perhaps the Pirates are considering Tony with the fourth overall pick.  
• Deven Marrero and Stephen Baron had stellar workouts at the Florida High School All-Star event in Sebring, FL and have improved their draft stock.
• The Cardinals hope to get a college arm with their first pick at #19, but if not, they're considering Chad James.
• Another possibility for the Cardinals is Kyle Heckathorn who has also drawn interest from the Diamondbacks (picks 16 and 17), Blue Jays (#2) and Angels (#24 and #25).
• The Blue Jays also like Heckathorn's teammate, Chad Jenkins.