2009 Early Mock Draft

It is never too early to start preparing for the upcoming season. Participating in a mock draft in one of the best ways to get a feel for how a draft might shape up in February or March. Twelve Fantasy Baseball Cafe members took on the task of taking part on a slow mock draft that started right after Thanksgiving and ended at the end of December.

The biggest question going into the draft was where Chase Utley would be drafted. Utley, an annual first round selection, was slated to be chosen there again before having hip surgery in late November. Nobody knows when Utley will be back in action, but even with these uncertainties surrounding his return and subsequent performance, Utley was still taken with the first pick of the second round.

It must be noted that this mock draft was done during an active period of free agent signings and trades. These transactions can drastically change a player’s value. J.J. Putz is a great example. At the time when he was taken in our draft (early 11th round), he was still slotted to be closing for the Seattle Mariners. This is fair value for a good closer. However, with him getting traded to the New York Mets, Putz holds little value in a 5X5 league because he will not be closing for the Mets in 2009 unless something happens to new closer Francisco Rodriguez.

Here are the results of the draft:

Pick #	Player	Round	Team
1.	Hanley Ramirez, SS – FLA	1	Aqua
2.	Alex Rodriguez, 3B – NYY	1	oddman
3.	Albert Pujols, 1B – STL	1	horatio
4.	David Wright, 3B – NYM	1	Yoda
5.	Jose Reyes, SS – NYM	1	R&C
6.	Miguel Cabrera, 1B/3B – DET	1	KCollins
7.	Ryan Howard, 1B – PHI	1	rjforlife
8.	Grady Sizemore, OF – CLE	1	BP
9.	Ryan Braun, OF – MIL	1	Snakes
10.	Josh Hamilton, OF – TEX	1	kimchi
11.	Mark Teixeira, 1B – NYY	1	Mikee
12.	Matt Holliday, OF – OAK	1	Giants
13.	Chase Utley, 2B – PHI	2	Giants
14.	Johan Santana, SP – NYM	2	Mikee
15.	Carlos Beltran, OF – NYM	2	kimchi
16.	Prince Fielder, 1B – MIL	2	Snakes
17.	Lance Berkman, 1B – HOU	2	BP
18.	Jimmy Rollins, SS – PHI	2	rjforlife
19.	Alfonso Soriano, OF – CHC	2	KCollins
20.	Tim Lincecum, SP – SF	2	R&C
21.	Ian Kinsler, 2B – TEX	2	Yoda
22.	C.C. Sabathia, SP – NYY	2	horatio
23.	Carlos Quentin, OF – CHW	2	oddman
24.	B.J. Upton, OF – TB	2	Aqua
25.	Evan Longoria, 3B – TB	3	Aqua
26.	Jake Peavy, SP – SDP	3	oddman
27.	Manny Ramirez, OF – LAD	3	horatio
28.	Carlos Lee, OF – HOU	3	Yoda
29.	Justin Morneau, 1B – MIN	3	R&C
30.	Jason Bay, OF – BOS	3	KCollins
31.	Aramis Ramirez, 3B – CHC	3	rjforlife
32.	Matt Kemp, OF – LAD	3	BP
33.	Brandon Webb, SP – ARZ	3	Snakes
34.	Vladimir Guerrero, OF – LAA	3	kimchi
35.	Dustin Pedroia, 2B – BOS	3	Mikee
36.	Adrian Gonzalez, 1B – SDP	3	Giants
37.	Cole Hamels, SP – PHI	4	Giants
38.	Roy Halladay, SP – TOR	4	Mikee
39.	Ichiro Suzuki, OF – SEA	4	kimchi
40.	Carl Crawford, OF – TB	4	Snakes
41.	Brandon Phillips, 2B – CIN	4	BP
42.	Nick Markakis, OF – BAL	4	rjforlife
43.	Alex Rios, OF – TOR	4	KCollins
44.	David Ortiz, DH – BOS	4	R&C
45.	Curtis Granderson, OF – DET	4	Yoda
46.	Brian Roberts, 2B – BAL	4	horatio
47.	Adam Dunn, OF – ARZ	4	oddman
48.	Corey Hart, OF – MIL	4	Aqua
49.	Dan Haren, SP – ARZ	5	Aqua
50.	Chad Billingsley, SP – LAD	5	oddman
51.	Joe Mauer, C – MIN	5	horatio
52.	Brian McCann, C – ATL	5	Yoda
53.	Magglio Ordonez, OF – DET	5	R&C
54.	Garrett Atkins, 1B/3B – COL	5	KCollins
55.	Russell Martin, C – LAD	5	rjforlife
56.	Kevin Youkilis, 1B/3B – BOS	5	BP
57.	Chipper Jones, 3B – ATL	5	Snakes
58.	Derrek Lee, 1B – CHC	5	kimchi
59.	Stephen Drew, SS – ARZ	5	Mikee
60.	Bobby Abreu, OF – NYY	5	Giants
61.	Jonathan Papelbon, RP – BOS	6	Giants
62.	Alexei Ramirez, 2B/SS/OF – CHW	6	Mikee
63.	Carlos Pena, 1B – TB	6	kimchi
64.	Nate McLouth, OF – PIT	6	Snakes
65.	Shane Victorino, OF – PHI	6	BP
66.	Ryan Ludwick, OF – STL	6	rjforlife
67.	Jacoby Ellsbury, OF – BOS	6	KCollins
68.	Francisco Rodriguez, RP – NYM	6	R&C
69.	Scott Kazmir, SP – TB	6	Yoda
70.	Joe Nathan, RP – MIN	6	horatio
71.	Troy Tulowitzki, SS – COL	6	oddman
72.	Dan Uggla, 2B – FLA	6	Aqua
73.	Rafael Furcal, SS – LAD	7	Aqua
74.	Felix Hernandez, SP – SEA	7	oddman
75.	Aubrey Huff, 1B/3B – BAL	7	horatio
76.	Mariano Rivera, RP – NYY	7	Yoda
77.	Victor Martinez, C/1B – CLE	7	R&C
78.	Brad Lidge, RP – PHI	7	KCollins
79.	John Lackey, SP – LAA	7	rjforlife
80.	Josh Beckett, SP – BOS	7	BP
81.	Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP – BOS	7	Snakes
82.	Michael Young, SS – TEX	7	kimchi
83.	Vernon Wells, OF – TOR	7	Mikee
84.	Roy Oswalt, SP – HOU	7	Giants
85.	Geovany Soto, C – CHC	8	Giants
86.	Jay Bruce, OF – CIN	8	Mikee
87.	Hunter Pence, OF – HOU	8	kimchi
88.	J.J. Hardy, SS – MIL	8	Snakes
89.	Ben Sheets, SP – MIL	8	BP
90.	Jose Valverde, RP – HOU	8	rjforlife
91.	Jermaine Dye, OF – CHW	8	KCollins
92.	Cliff Lee, SP – CLE	8	R&C
93.	James Shields, SP – TB	8	Yoda
94.	Rich Harden, SP – CHC	8	horatio
95.	Joey Votto, 1B – CIN	8	oddman
96.	Chris Davis, 1B/3B – TEX	8	Aqua
97.	Ervin Santana, SP – LAA	9	Aqua
98.	Robinson Cano, 2B – NYY	9	oddman
99.	Bobby Jenks, RP – CHW	9	horatio
100.	Johnny Damon, OF – NYY	9	Yoda
101.	Chris B. Young, OF – ARZ	9	R&C
102.	Jon Lester, SP – BOS	9	KCollins
103.	Lastings Milledge, OF – WAS	9	rjforlife
104.	Jhonny Peralta, SS – CLE	9	BP
105.	Joakim Soria, RP – KC	9	Snakes
106.	A.J. Burnett, SP – NYY	9	kimchi
107.	Ryan Zimmerman, 3B – WAS	9	Mikee
108.	Derek Jeter, SS – NYY	9	Giants
109.	Torii Hunter, OF – LAA	10	Giants
110.	Matt Capps, RP – PIT	10	Mikee
111.	B.J. Ryan, RP – TOR	10	kimchi
112.	Chone Figgins, 2B/3B – LAA	10	Snakes
113.	Francisco Cordero, RP – CIN	10	BP
114.	Joba Chamberlain, SP – NYY	10	rjforlife
115.	Carlos Zambrano, SP – CHC	10	KCollins
116.	Brad Hawpe, OF – COL	10	R&C
117.	Carlos Delgado, 1B – NYM	10	Yoda
118.	Jayson Werth, OF – PHI	10	horatio
119.	Yovani Gallardo, SP – MIL	10	oddman
120.	Jim Thome, DH – CHW	10	Aqua
121.	Zack Greinke, SP – KC	11	Aqua
122.	Jorge Cantu, 1B/3B – FLA	11	oddman
123.	J.J. Putz, RP – NYM	11	horatio
124.	Francisco Liriano, SP – MIN	11	Yoda
125.	Miguel Tejada, SS – HOU	11	R&C
126.	Javier Vazquez, SP – ATL	11	KCollins
127.	Adam Wainwright, SP – STL	11	rjforlife
128.	Matt Cain, SP – SF	11	BP
129.	David Price, RP – TB	11	Snakes
130.	Kerry Wood, RP – CLE	11	kimchi
131.	Raul Ibanez, OF – PHI	11	Mikee
132.	Edinson Volquez, SP – CIN	11	Giants
133.	Ricky Nolasco, SP – FLA	12	Giants
134.	Chien Ming Wang, SP – NYY	12	Mikee
135.	Ryan Dempster, SP – CHC	12	kimchi
136.	Andre Ethier, OF – LAD	12	Snakes
137.	Milton Bradley, OF – CHC	12	BP
138.	Pat Burrell, OF – TB	12	rjforlife
139.	John Danks, SP – CHW	12	KCollins
140.	Jonathan Broxton, RP – LAD	12	R&C
141.	Paul Konerko, 1B – CHW	12	Yoda
142.	Mike Aviles, 2B/SS/3B – KC	12	horatio
143.	Carlos Marmol, RP – CHC	12	oddman
144.	Justin Verlander, SP – DET	12	Aqua
145.	Adrian Beltre, 3B – SEA	13	Aqua
146.	Adam Jones, OF – BAL	13	oddman
147.	Jose Arredondo, RP – LAA	13	horatio
148.	Alex Gordon, 3B – KC	13	Yoda
149.	Erik Bedard, SP – SEA	13	R&C
150.	Yunel Escobar, SS – ATL	13	KCollins
151.	Mark Reynolds, 3B – ARZ	13	rjforlife
152.	Xavier Nady, OF – NYY	13	BP
153.	Mike Gonzalez, RP – ATL	13	Snakes
154.	Aaron Harang, SP – CIN	13	kimchi
155.	Huston Street, RP – COL	13	Mikee
156.	Brian Fuentes, RP – LAA	13	Giants
157.	Nelson Cruz, OF – TEX	14	Giants
158.	Carlos Gomez, OF – MIN	14	Mikee
159.	Brett Myers, SP – PHI	14	kimchi
160.	Chris Young, SP – SDP	14	Snakes
161.	Brian Wilson, RP – SF	14	BP
162.	Josh Johnson, SP – FLA	14	rjforlife
163.	Heath Bell, RP – SDP	14	KCollins
164.	Edwin Encarnacion, 3B – CIN	14	R&C
165.	Clayton Kershaw, SP – LAD	14	Yoda
166.	Chad Qualls, RP – ARZ	14	horatio
167.	Elijah Dukes, OF – WAS	14	oddman
168.	Conor Jackson, 1B – ARZ	14	Aqua
169.	Ted Lilly, SP – CHC	15	Aqua
170.	Chris Iannetta, C – COL	15	oddman
171.	Eric Byrnes, OF – ARZ	15	horatio
172.	Orlando Cabrera, SS – CHW	15	Yoda
173.	Delmon Young, OF – MIN	15	R&C
174.	Howie Kendrick, 2B – LAA	15	KCollins
175.	Max Scherzer, RP – ARZ	15	rjforlife
176.	Derek Lowe, SP – LAD	15	BP
177.	Ryan Doumit, C – PIT	15	Snakes
178.	Scott Baker, SP – MIN	15	kimchi
179.	Mark DeRosa, 2B/3B – CLE	15	Mikee
180.	Mike Cameron, OF – MIL	15	Giants
181.	Pablo Sandoval, C/1B/3B – SF	16	Giants
182.	J.D. Drew, OF – BOS	16	Mikee
183.	Troy Glaus, 3B – STL	16	kimchi
184.	Joey Devine, RP – OAK	16	Snakes
185.	Matt Garza, SP – TB	16	BP
186.	Justin Duscherer, SP – OAK	16	rjforlife
187.	James Loney, 1B – LAD	16	KCollins
188.	Kevin Slowey, SP – MIN	16	R&C
189.	Kelly Johnson, 2B – ATL	16	Yoda
190.	Brandon Morrow, SP – SEA	16	horatio
191.	Coco Crisp, OF – KC	16	oddman
192.	Matt Wieters, C – BAL	16	Aqua
193.	Justin Upton, OF – ARZ	17	Aqua
194.	Cameron Maybin, OF – FLA	17	oddman
195.	Jose Lopez, 2B – SEA	17	horatio
196.	Joel Hanrahan, RP – WAS	17	Yoda
197.	Rickie Weeks, 2B – MIL	17	R&C
198.	Gil Meche, SP – KC	17	KCollins
199.	Jeremy Hermida, OF – FLA	17	rjforlife
200.	Mike Jacobs, 1B – KC	17	BP
201.	John Maine, SP – NYM	17	Snakes
202.	Jered Weaver, SP – LAA	17	kimchi
203.	Adam LaRoche, 1B – PIT	17	Mikee
204.	Nick Swisher, 1B/OF – NYY	17	Giants
205.	Ubaldo Jiminez, SP – COL	18	Giants
206.	Fausto Carmona, SP – CLE	18	Mikee
207.	Jason Giambi, 1B – OAK	18	kimchi
208.	Hank Blalock, 3B – TEX	18	Snakes
209.	Jorge Posada, C – NYY	18	BP
210.	Jair Jurrjens, SP – ATL	18	rjforlife
211.	Chris Carpenter, SP – STL	18	KCollins
212.	Billy Butler, 1B – KC	18	R&C
213.	Rick Ankiel, OF – STL	18	Yoda
214.	Ty Wigginton, 3B/OF – HOU	18	horatio
215.	Johnny Cueto, SP – CIN	18	oddman
216.	Jason Kubel, OF – MIN	18	Aqua
217.	Jonathan Sanchez, SP – SF	19	Aqua
218.	Frank Francisco, RP – TEX	19	oddman
219.	Hideki Matsui, OF – NYY	19	horatio
220.	Randy Johnson, SP – SF	19	Yoda
221.	Trevor Hoffman, RP – MIL	19	R&C
222.	Matt Lindstrom, RP – FLA	19	KCollins
223.	Brad Ziegler, RP – OAK	19	rjforlife
224.	Phil Hughes, SP – NYY	19	BP
225.	Joe Saunders, SP – LAA	19	Snakes
226.	Oliver Perez, SP – NYM	19	kimchi
227.	Brad Penny, SP – BOS	19	Mikee
228.	Edgar Renteria, SS – SF	19	Giants
229.	Mark Buehrle, SP – CHW	20	Giants
230.	Ramon Hernandez, C – CIN	20	Mikee
231.	Bengie Molina, C – SF	20	kimchi
232.	Felipe Lopez, 2B – ARZ	20	Snakes
233.	Placido Polanco, 2B – DET	20	BP
234.	Ryan Theriot, SS – CHC	20	rjforlife
235.	Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B – SDP	20	KCollins
236.	Gavin Floyd, SP – CHW	20	R&C
237.	Shin Soo Choo, OF – CLE	20	Yoda
238.	Mike Lowell, 3B – BOS	20	horatio
239.	Chris Perez, RP – STL	20	oddman
240.	Grant Balfour, RP – TB	20	Aqua
241.	John Smoltz, SP – BOS	21	Aqua
242.	Ian Stewart, 2B/3B – COL	21	oddman
243.	Denard Span, OF – MIN	21	horatio
244.	George Sherrill, RP – BAL	21	Yoda
245.	Jeff Francoeur, OF – ATL	21	R&C
246.	Alexi Casilla, 2B – MIN	21	KCollins
247.	Travis Hafner, DH – CLE	21	rjforlife
248.	Kevin Gregg, RP – CHC	21	BP
249.	Chase Headley, 3B/OF – SDP	21	Snakes
250.	Orlando Hudson, 2B – ARZ	21	kimchi
251.	David DeJesus, OF – KC	21	Mikee
252.	Todd Helton, 1B – COL	21	Giants
253.	Chris Ray, RP – BAL	22	Giants
254.	Justin Masterson, SP – BOS	22	Mikee
255.	Aaron Hill, 2B – TOR	22	kimchi
256.	Carlos Gonzalez, OF – COL	22	Snakes
257.	Randy Winn, OF – SF	22	BP
258.	Clint Barmes, 2B/SS/3B – COL	22	rjforlife
259.	Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C – TEX	22	KCollins
260.	Clay Buchholz, SP – BOS	22	R&C
261.	Neftali Feliz, SP – TEX	22	Yoda
262.	Hiroki Kuroda, SP – LAD	22	horatio
263.	Manny Parra, SP – MIL	22	oddman
264.	Carlos Carrasco, SP – PHI	22	Aqua

Debate has already begun in the leftovers forum. Please join the discussion, we’d love to hear your opinions!

Aqua=AquaMan2342
oddman=oddmanout7
horatio=horatio
Yoda=Yoda
R&C=rookies and cream
KCollins=KCollins1304
rjforlife=rjforlife
BP=Big Pimpin
Snakes=Snakes Gould
kimchi=kimchi_chigae
Mikee=MikeeDee
Giants=GiantsFan14

Rafael Oliveira is one of a growing number of fantasy experts who write for the Cafe. You can catch up with Rafael in the Cafe's forums where he posts under the name of kimchi_chigae.

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2009 Early Mock Draft

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