12/15/2004 11:16 PM ET
Red Sox turn attention to Clement
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
BOSTON -- The Red Sox are working hard to fill the sizable rotation void left by three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez, who will be officially unveiled as the newest member of the New York Mets on Thursday morning.
With Martinez taking his brilliant credentials elsewhere, the Sox have turned their attention to free agent right-hander Matt Clement.
"They're very interested," Barry Axelrod, the agent for Clement, said of his recent discussions with the Red Sox. "And the interest is mutual."
The 30-year-old Clement is intriguing because he has always had terrific stuff, but hasn't necessarily had the success to match his repertoire.
Pitching for the Cubs in 2004, Clement went 9-13 with a 3.68 ERA. The Red Sox like strikeout pitchers, and Clement is one, punching out 191 batters over 181 innings this past season.
Clement's name was often linked with the Red Sox prior to the July 31 trade deadline, but he wound up staying put in Chicago.
Axelrod expects Clement to pick his next employer by the end of the week. There are six or seven teams interested in the right-hander, including the Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Indians and Blue Jays.
"I've been pleasantly surprised at the amount and the level of interest," Axelrod said. "We've slipped into process of elimination mode and we're not getting very far with it. ... It's hard. We've crossed a team or two off the list and had new ones jump in, as I guess the whole free agency scenario switches and changes. It's all kind of dynamic."
Clement has a hard, sinking fastball and a nasty slider. He has pitched for the Padres, Marlins and Cubs. If he joined the Red Sox, he would have an early advantage in that American League hitters don't have much experience against him.
If the Red Sox are unsuccessful in their quest to land Clement, they'll likely shift their focus to the trade market. Oakland's Tim Hudson and Florida's A.J. Burnett are among the pitchers the Sox have interest in.
While the biggest news in Boston this week was the departure of Martinez, the Sox have added two pieces to their pitching puzzle, bringing in left-handers David Wells and John Halama. The Sox are expected to announce the signing of star shortstop Edgar Renteria by the end of the week.
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