Though he hadn’t pitched in the major leagues since having shoulder surgery, the Cardinals signed Matt Clement with the expectation he would be on their Opening Day roster and ready to contribute as part of their 2008 starting rotation.
On Jan. 3, 2008, the Cardinals signed Clement, a free agent right-hander, to a one-year contract with a club option for 2009. The Cardinals guaranteed Clement, 33, a $1.5 million base salary for 2008 and a spot on their 40-man major-league roster, even though he had sat out the 2007 season while recovering from an operation that reconstructed his right shoulder.
Many hailed the move as a worthy experiment.
Seven months later, the test was deemed a failure.
Clement never pitched for the Cardinals. He did walk away, however, with nearly $2 million.
Leap of faith
Clement began his big-league career with the Padres (1998-2000) and also pitched for the Marlins (2001), Cubs (2002-2004) and Red Sox (2005-2006). His best pitches were a heavy sinker and a slider. His best attribute was his reliability. Clement made at least 30 starts in each of seven straight seasons (1999-2005).
His top years were 2003, when he earned 14 wins for the National League Central Division champion Cubs, and 2005, when he was named to the American League all-star team and was 13-6 for the defending World Series champion Red Sox. Overall, though, his career marks were insipid: an 87-86 record and a 4.47 ERA.
In 2006, with the cartilage and tendons in his shoulder in tatters, Clement was 5-5 with a 6.61 ERA when the Red Sox sent him for surgery in August. He didn’t pitch in 2007 and he became a free agent after the season.
The Cardinals decided to invest in Clement after he passed a team physical performed by Dr. George Paletta. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak declared Clement “100 percent healthy” and said he expected the pitcher to be ready by Opening Day, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
“It just made sense that we take this leap of faith,” Mozeliak said.
Claiming he had interest from other clubs, Clement said he chose the Cardinals because “they stepped up and believed in me right away.”
High hopes
The Cardinals projected Clement would join a 2008 rotation with Adam Wainwright, Joel Pineiro, Braden Looper and Mark Mulder. Like Clement, Mulder had undergone shoulder surgery. The Cardinals expected Mulder to be ready in May.
Skeptics scoffed the Cardinals were depending too much on a retread (Pineiro), a converted reliever (Looper) and two pitchers with shredded shoulders (Clement and Mulder).
Mozeliak, however, repeatedly said he was comfortable with the composition of the starting staff as well as with the backups the Cardinals had in Todd Wellemeyer, Brad Thompson and Anthony Reyes. Of Clement, Mozeliak said, “He has high expectations, as do we.”
Bryan Burwell, a Post-Dispatch columnist, called Mozeliak’s move to acquire Clement “a calculated hunch” and a “vastly intriguing trinket to their already burgeoning Island of Misfit Toys.”
In a February Post-Dispatch poll asking “How many games will Matt Clement win this season?,” 46 percent responded 10 to 12, and 24 percent said 13 to 15. Only 6 percent said 0 to 5.
Weak arm
The breezy blather regarding Clement came to a halt as soon as Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan got his first look at him in spring training camp at Jupiter, Fla. Duncan determined Clement lacked arm strength. “I will be surprised if he’s ready for Opening Day,” Duncan said.
Duncan put Clement on a program of long tosses rather than throws from the mound. Meanwhile, Pineiro developed an injury and his status for Opening Day was in doubt. With the rotation at risk of unraveling, the Cardinals on March 13, 2008, signed free agent Kyle Lohse and plugged him into a rotation with Wainwright, Looper, Wellemeyer and Thompson.
On March 25, 2008, Clement pitched in a minor-league scrimmage at Jupiter. His fastest pitch was 86 mph. Clement “was not throwing with the strength or control needed to be effective,” the Post-Dispatch reported.
The Cardinals placed Clement on the 15-day disabled list and said he would begin the 2008 season in extended spring training.
Comeback aborted
At the end of May 2008, the Cardinals said Clement would begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment. Mozeliak said the move “starts the clock” on a return to the majors for Clement.
In a June 3, 2008, start for Class A Palm Beach, Clement pitched six shutout innings. He was advanced to Class AA Springfield and in two starts was 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA.
Clement was moved up to Class AAA Memphis and in his first start for them he gave up six runs in three innings. The Cardinals decided to convert Clement into a reliever. “It seems to be clear it’s going to be difficult for Matt to contribute as a starter,” Mozeliak said.
In 13 games with Memphis, Clement was 1-0 with a 7.02 ERA.
On Aug. 2, 2008, the Cardinals released Clement. “We didn’t feel like he was going to contribute to our major-league team, so we didn’t want him to block our younger guys coming up,” Mozeliak said.
The Cardinals paid Clement the remainder of his $1.5 million salary, plus a $250,000 buyout on his 2009 option, according to the Post-Dispatch. In all, Clement got $1.75 million from the Cardinals.
Because of strong seasons from Lohse (15-6), Wellemeyer (13-9) and Wainwright (11-3), the 2008 Cardinals overcame the failures of Clement and Mulder (who made three appearances for them) and finished 86-76.
“If you want to harangue Mozeliak for taking one gamble that blew up _ spending $1.5 million on rehabbing pitcher Matt Clement _ then go right ahead, but it’s inconsequential” wrote Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz. “Mozeliak has moved the Cardinals into a surprising position: that of a contender.”
The Blue Jays signed Clement to a contract in December 2008, but he didn’t stick with them. At 34, his pitching career was finished.
Previously: Wrangle at Wrigley: Tony La Russa vs. Dusty Baker
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