Matt Clement signs with Red Sox

Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

ESPN.com news services

Right-hander Matt Clement and the Boston Red Sox agreed Friday to a three-year deal worth $25.5 million, ESPN's Peter Gammons has confirmed.


2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM W L Sv K ERA
30 9 13 0 190 3.68

Clement's agent, Barry Axelrod, told MLB.com that the deal would become official once Clement has a physical and financial terms are worked out. He also said Clement chose the Red Sox over the Angels, who offered a similar deal; he said during the winter meetings that seven teams -- including the White Sox, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Indians -- were pursuing his client.

"In the end, geography may have taken a prominent place," Axelrod told MLB.com of Clement's decision. "Matt's family and his wife's family are in Pennsylvania. The thought of his dad and other family members being able to easily get to Boston to see him pitch became a big factor for him. Who wouldn't want to pitch in front of their family at Fenway Park?"

Red Sox spokesman Glenn Geffner had no comment.

Clement went 9-13 with a 3.58 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 181 innings for the Chicago Cubs last season. In seven major-league seasons with the Padres, Marlins and Cubs, Clement is 69-75 with a 4.34 ERA.

Freak

Decent pitcher, solid pickup for the Bosox. I was hoping the Jays would be able to bring him in for the rotation.

Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

I heard it was between the Sox, Toronto and Anaheim. Its weird. Toronto has had a tough time lately of recruiting players to come play for them. Lately it seems like everyone is making them one of their top choices but dont actually go there.

I would love to play in Toronto, but not in the Skydome. That place is a dump.

Mr. Hyde

Good strikeout pitcher. Definitly a step in the right direction. Next move is to sign Varitek.

Dr. Giganto

which is ironic, because when it opened like 15 years ago it was considered state of the art and way ahead of any other stadium

Mr. Hyde

hahaha really? In 15 years, a stadium shouldn't go from majestic to being a complete dump. There's something wrong with the maintence crew I think. Fenway Park isn't the prettiest place in the world either, but at least they're trying to improve it.

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

skydome looked like shit when i went there 5 years ago.

Freak

The SkyDome is probably the dankest, coldest-looking building I've ever been in. All the walls are this gruesome concrete, and there's no personality to anything at all. Even the astroturf makes me want to puke, even though I think they're replacing it with field-turf finally.

Profit

Strikeout pitcher? The guy has about a 2:1 K to BB ratio over his career. Decent guy, but he's struggled with walking batters his entire career.

Profit

And while I'm here - El Duque and Varitek declined arbitration. That should spice things up a bit!