This one should be easy as the Pirates already made the right decision with Jeff Clement.
Clement has been a flop at the major league level. Not that the Pirates gave up much for him.
Really have to think the Pirates made out in that deal just by acquiring Ronny Cedeno. Clement was a longshot to ever bounce back, and this outcome was always on the table.
| Year | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | SEA | 9 | 19 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | .375 | .474 | .813 | 1.286 |
| 2008 | SEA | 66 | 224 | 203 | 17 | 46 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 15 | 63 | .227 | .295 | .360 | .654 |
| 2010 | PIT | 54 | 154 | 144 | 11 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 37 | .201 | .237 | .368 | .605 |
| 2012 | PIT | 23 | 24 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | .136 | .208 | .182 | .390 |
| 4 Yrs | 152 | 421 | 385 | 33 | 84 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 39 | 26 | 110 | .218 | .277 | .371 | .648 | |
| PIT (2 yrs) | 77 | 178 | 166 | 12 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 8 | 44 | .193 | .233 | .343 | .576 | |
| SEA (2 yrs) | 75 | 243 | 219 | 21 | 52 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 26 | 18 | 66 | .237 | .309 | .393 | .701 | |
| NL (2 yrs) | 77 | 178 | 166 | 12 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 8 | 44 | .193 | .233 | .343 | .576 | |
| AL (2 yrs) | 75 | 243 | 219 | 21 | 52 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 26 | 18 | 66 | .237 | .309 | .393 | .701 | |
Overall Clement had a pretty good year at AAA, batting .276/.340/.486 in 112 games.
The Pirates really blundered his callup though and I questioned the move when it happened.
If you took the time to read that you’d see that when the Pirates called Jeff Clement it was during a time that he was ice cold.
A problem to be sure. The biggest problem though was that Jeff Clement often ended up batting for Clint Barmes, who has a better stick, somehow, and was routinely the first bat off the bench despite better option.
Oddly though he was relied on in some pretty big situations, but was recently released after he failed in just 22 big league at bats. That leads me to question if the Pirates ever knew what they had or didn’t have in Clement? I had little illusion that he wouldn’t contribute this year, but the Pirates obviously believed in him, so why cut him after 22 at bats unless they really have no clue what is going on with him.
That said, this was the right move.
Jeff Clement was outrighted on October 25, 2012 and is eligible for Minor League Free Agency.
The spot on the 40 man roster is better used on Rule V guys anyway. Either to not lose them or to draft one.
Go Vote by the way. It’s freaking Election Day.
Roster Watch: Pedro Alvarez
Roster Watch: Rod Barajas
Roster Watch: Clint Barmes
Roster Watch: A.J. Burnett
