Red Sox land Cubs' Matt Clement

wilheim · Dec 18, 2004

12/17/2004

According to an ESPN report, the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a three-year deal with pitcher Matt Clement.

Clement, who went 9-13 with a 3.68 ERA and 190 strikeouts with the Chicago Cubs, will earn $25.5 million over the duration of the deal.

Clement's agent, Barry Axelrod, told MLB.com that the deal would become official once he has a physical and financial terms are worked out. Axelrod also said that the Angels offered a similar deal but Clement chose the Red Sox. According to Axelrod, the Toronto Blue Jays were one of seven teams that were pursuing Clement at the winter meetings.

''In the end, geography may have taken a prominent place,'' Axelrod told MLB.com. ''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?''

Fishhead · Dec 18, 2004

So as it stands now..........the RED SOX rotation has traded...........

LOWE and PEDRO .............for WELLS and CLEMENT

NOT GOOD

D2bets · Dec 18, 2004

Boston will be happy with him. He's a good guy. I do worry about his long-term health though with all those sharp sliders he throws. But when he's on his game he's one of the nastiest pitchers around. He has one of the best sliders in the majors. I hope he succeeds there. :103631605

D2bets · Dec 18, 2004

It's not that bad Fish. I suppose you can't replace Pedro, but Clement and Wells are both better than Lowe.

wilheim · Dec 18, 2004

Not to mention Renteria.

Clement can be steadier than Lowe.

Plus it is early yet. have faith.

wil.

Mr.Smith · Dec 18, 2004

clement is very good. wells was too last year. I like this trade. Lowe was not good Pedro is a ticking time bomb. Sure you'd like to have him next year. Maybe even 1 more. But no way after that, especially with the money guaranteed him.

lowe was a zero last year. I'll take Clement and Wells.

oldmanTED · Dec 18, 2004

As much as I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Red Sox become the world champions this year, believe that no matter what moves they make, they will not repeat this year. Should be competitve but the fire inside just won't be there. Will be entertaining perhaps but very difficult to re-reach that high level of play that had them run off 8 straight to eliminate New York and then St.Louis. It sure was fun while it lasted though.

REDEYE · Dec 18, 2004

Fish,You might be able to pick up Sheets too, july 31st

wilheim · Dec 18, 2004

The ALCS will be the real World Series and looks like a rematch from last year. Yanks Vs. Red Sox. The World Series itself will be an anti climax.

wil.

oldmanTED · Dec 18, 2004

Wil:

If, and that is a big if, the ALCS does land the Yankees and the Red Sox again, it will be surely another exceptional showdown. That being said, don't rule out the National League champion. Remember two years ago Florida took it all after the Yankees/Red Sox showdown. There is one team that I am very familiar with that won their division wire to wire two years ago only to be eliminated by the Marlins. That same team has already strengthened considerably at their key weak points, shortstop, catcher and closer. Expect them to win the division again this year and move deeper into the playoffs like they did three years ago and wouldn't surprise me to see them in the World Series once again. Go Giants!

jjgold · Dec 18, 2004

He will get hammered in Fenway
Boston took a step backward, the party is over

blueedwards · Dec 18, 2004

and your new american league wild-pitch leader is...matt clement

FairWarning · Dec 18, 2004

2005 is the Year of the Cubs.

Believe it.

blueedwards · Dec 18, 2004

FairWarning said:
2005 is the Year of the Cubs.

Believe it.

as long as they have sosa, they will never win.

RobFunk · Dec 18, 2004

im not optimistic about this years sox team at all. .

we will probably be top 3 in scoring but this pitching will not get it done in the playoffs, should they make it there. plus the BP, other than foulke, is still fragile.

but i dont care, we got our title. and im sick of every year yanks/sox in the ALCS the rivalry should be more sacred than this. i need 2 years to recover from that gut wrenching victory. that was some intense stuff! ask newport and fishhead amoung others im happy we are all still alive!! you yankees fans have a tradition of having it good every single year. and thats fine with me.

GreenDoberman · Dec 18, 2004

Clement has great stuff, but does not have the makeup to be a winner. He will never be much more than a .500 pitcher his career.

blueedwards · Dec 18, 2004

GreenDoberman said:
Clement has great stuff, but does not have the makeup to be a winner. He will never be much more than a .500 pitcher his career.

i agree. no command. very inconsistent. one day, he will go 8 innings, give up 2 hits and strikeout 11. the next start, he will walk 6 guys, give up 2 homeruns and get yanked in the 4th inning.

plus, if clement is pitching a strong game and you need the under and there is a guy on 3rd base in the 9th inning, you can count on a wild pitch to kill your bet.

GreenDoberman · Dec 18, 2004

Blue,

sorry I missed you when you came out here. You seem to have a strong knowledge and opinions that I respect. My people talked highly of you.

blueedwards · Dec 18, 2004

gd...right back at you bro. i had a great time in the card room and made a nice profit. it was me and 8 drunk guys from ireland. they were very aggressive so i employed the check-raise pretty much whenever i got a hand...worked out pretty well. dealers were all nice guys and solid dealers.

i hope to get back in 05. if i do, i will definately give you a call. the wife is not a vegas lover so, i have to work on her to either come with or not be pissed if i go with my boys...it is not easy.

good luck today.

by the way, nice call on the dogs last sunday...i jumped on your back for the cash.