Hot Coffey in The House

[hoosiers]

It appears JJ moved quick to sign Coffey. We read about a former/potential, injured first round type talent from other posters. Here's some things on the web on the latest addition (can't vouch for the quality of the web-sites). It's also clear from various web-sites that Coffey's name was mentioned among the very best HS arms as his name is consistently mentioned in reviews with Purke and Wheeler.

Several ESPN insider articles I am not privy too. The visible blurbs hint Coffey was a respected talent, IMO, such as "Law checks in with the potential high draftee pitcher" and "While most of the top prep pitchers are strutting their stuff on the mound, left-hander Cameron Coffey will be rehabbing his throwing elbow instead. Coffey had Tommy John surgery late last week, ending his season and dragging a dark cloud over his draft status. Coffey has committed to Duke University, but was moving swiftly up the draft charts with his low-90s fastball and prototypical 6-foot-4 frame."

http://morisato.realsportsbloggers.com/2009/06/08/morisatos-2009-mlb-mock-draft-final-pre-draft-version/

Cameron Coffey (RHP), Texas High School

Coffey is a tall left that has easy velocity. He throws in the high 80’s, but can touch 92 several times. He has an excellent changeup with good movement, and he has a slider, but it’s raw. His delivery has some kinks to work out, and he can overthrow his pitches at times, causing him to flatten out his pitches. He also has trouble maintaining his velocity. However, there are some things to like about him, and his commitment to Duke can be bought out. All in all, look for Coffey to go in the first day.

http://mlbbonusbaby.com/2009/07/14/draft-review-baltimore-orioles/

22. Cameron Coffey, LHP, Houston Christian HS (TX), #656 overall, 6’5’’/215: Coffey got a tough break this spring, when he blew out his elbow and had Tommy John surgery. This came after a huge breakout early in the year in which he started routinely throwing in the low-90s and I was hearing tons of buzz on him. I thought he might be heading towards day one before the injury. This seems like a pure follow to me, as I don’t think the Orioles will invest the money to sign Coffey away from his strong Duke commitment. DOB: 9/20/90. Commitment: Duke.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2009/02/you_want_draft.html

He appears to be moving up draft boards as scouts check him out. He's 6-5 and already holding his velocity above 90 mph. He's already a high pick and could end up a first-rounder depending on the season plays out.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/memorial/sports/6539633.html

Article on his injury

[crawdad]

He is a good talent.

[tywright]

Coffey might actually have signed for the highest signing bonus for any MLB draft pick outside the top 10 rounds.

[Crazysilver03]

Coffey might actually have signed for the highest signing bonus for any MLB draft pick outside the top 10 rounds.

What was his signing bonus?

[QBsILLEST1]

What was his signing bonus?

We havent signed him yet as far as I understand...

[mallison]

Where is the link that says that we signed Coffey? I looked around, but didn't see anything.

[crawdad]

Where is the link that says that we signed Coffey? I looked around, but didn't see anything.

I think you'll find something in the updated Givens article on the Baltimore Sun.

[jamesenoch]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-sp.osnotes13aug13,0,7539209.story

A couple of days after signing fourth-round pick Randy Henry, a right-handed pitcher, the Orioles agreed to terms with 22nd-round pick Cameron Coffey, a left-handed pitcher out of Houston Christian High in Texas. He'll take a physical today.

[crawdad]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-sp.osnotes13aug13,0,7539209.story

A couple of days after signing fourth-round pick Randy Henry, a right-handed pitcher, the Orioles agreed to terms with 22nd-round pick Cameron Coffey, a left-handed pitcher out of Houston Christian High in Texas. He'll take a physical today.

So the question is . . . Is Coffey part of the Givens fall out or was Joe referring to two other draftees?

The Sun writing is pretty clunky and hard to understand with respect to this question.

[mallison]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-sp.osnotes13aug13,0,7539209.story

A couple of days after signing fourth-round pick Randy Henry, a right-handed pitcher, the Orioles agreed to terms with 22nd-round pick Cameron Coffey, a left-handed pitcher out of Houston Christian High in Texas. He'll take a physical today.

So the question is . . . Is Coffey part of the Givens fall out or was Joe referring to two other draftees?

The Sun writing is pretty clunky and hard to understand with respect to this question.

thanks guys!

[crawdad]

$990k signing bonus.

[tywright]

$990k signing bonus.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=1488

The Orioles have signed 22nd-round pick Cameron Coffey for $990,000. That’s an unprecedented deal for a player coming off Tommy John surgery shortly before the draft, and is reminiscent of the $710,000 bonus the Angels gave the late Nick Adenhart as a 14th-rounder in the same situation in 2004.

A lefthander from Houston Christian HS, Coffey didn’t attract much attention when he threw in the mid-80s last summer, but his fastball jumped to 91-94 mph this spring before he got hurt in early March. The projectable 6-foot-4, 205-pounder had his elbow reconstructed two weeks later. He had committed to Duke.

[tywright]

$990,000 is more than what Lars Anderson received ($825,000) when he was drafted in the 18th round.

[hoosiers]

Interesting that this amount appears to be more than the rumored offer that was pulled from Givens. This may hint that JJ likes Coffey more than Givens (and we are two months removed from the draft which means two months more familiar with Coffey's recovery) or JJ was fed up with the Givens' negotiating style which appears to have involved little room for concession.

The total amount spent is indicative of the kind of over-slot signing some of us have been asking about for years. I believe this brings our total draft spend to near $6M so far - a more than respectable effort IMO relative to our slotted bonuses and, excluding the difference in amounts needed to sign our first rounders, last year.

Hopefully, we may stilll have more to spend this year for Ohlman and Bush and/or our FO will continue to invest in the draft in over-slot signings in the future.

[Duke2010]

Wow, $990,000!

Jordan must really, really like Coffey. In my opinion, this is more significant than giving Arrieta $1.1 million because of the round Coffey was selected in, and because of his injury. Hopefully, things will work out for him and he can become our own version of Detroit's Casey Crosby.

With just over 4 days left until the deadline, it'll be interesting to see which remaining draftees get signed. I assume that Ohlman and Bush are looking for bonuses that are similar to Coffey's, and I think we'll have to at least pony up to Bobby Bundy-type money to sign either guy.

ETA: It'll be interesting to follow Coffey's path over the next few years. I'd expect him to be in short season leagues for the next two years while he builds his arm strength. It wouldn't surprise me to see him start 2010 in the GCL, and then start 2011 in Bluefield/Aberdeen.