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12-03-2004, 02:55 AM
<b>Signing of Miller grabs right-hander's attention</b>
MILWAUKEE -- Long shot or not, the Brewers are exploring a pitch for free agent right-hander Matt Clement.
General manager Doug Melvin has had at least one telephone conversation with Barry Axelrod, who represents the 30-year-old pitcher. The idea was sparked during the Brewers' contract discussions with catcher Damian Miller, who was a favorite of Clement's during their year together with the Cubs in 2003.
"We'll talk to Matt Clement," Melvin said. "It doesn't mean that we're going to be able to sign him, but at least it gives you the opportunity that over the past two years we never had. We would sit and wait for players to call who had sincere interest, and it never happened. Now, the phone will ring periodically, to the point where we don't always have to be the aggressor. ... Those are steps we have to take before we can go out there and talk about being attractive as a ballclub."
Axelrod confirmed the mutual curiosity, though he said Melvin placed the inital phone call.
"I told him that there are some things about the Brewers that are intriguing to Matt, among them that they are in the National League and in the same division that Matt has played in," Axelrod said. "At the time we talked, the Damian Miller thing was just a rumor. ... Matt is very partial to him."
That rumor became hard fact on Tuesday, when Miller signed a three-year pact with Milwaukee.
Miller's contract was for three years and guarantees about $3 million per season, about 40 percent of what Clement is reportedly seeking over the same number of years. Even with plans to modestly increase payroll under new owner-elect Mark Attanasio, that type of contract may be out of Milwaukee's reach.
Still, Melvin said, just getting consideration from a player like Clement is a positive development. According to Miller, the image of Milwaukee as Major League Baseball's frozen tundra is beginning to thaw.
"Three years ago, I might not have made this decision," Miller said. "I saw the improvement in the organization, from [Melvin and Ash] down to Ned Yost and the competitive team that these guys are putting on the field."
Maybe Clement is taking note, too. A right-hander with a nasty sinking fastball, he posted a 9-13 record with the Cubs in 2004 despite finishing in the top 20 in the NL with a 3.68 ERA. Clement ranked seventh in the league with 190 strikeouts.
Plenty of teams are after Clement -- "many more than I anticipated," according to Axelrod. Clement told a newspaper over the holiday weekend that Cleveland has been the most aggressive suitor, and the Blue Jays, Red Sox and White Sox are reportedly in the running. According to one account, Clement may be seeking a three-year contract for about $24 million.
Axelrod said he also had a very brief discussion with Melvin about another client, St. Louis' Matt Morris. It could help that Morris' wife is from southern Wisconsin, but Axelrod said Melvin expressed concern about the health of Morris' right shoulder. The pitcher underwent arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday to clean up some fraying of the labrum.
For Brewers fans, even hearing names like Clement and Morris associated with Milwaukee brings some warmth to the winter.
"I think they are trying," Axelrod said. "I really do like Doug Melvin and his ability. I like Ned Yost and his ability. The one thing they can't control is the disadvantageous position they find themselves in in terms of how much money they have to spend. That's not just me being a greedy agent representing a player -- it comes back to being a competitive team.
"I think Milwaukee is going in the right direction. I think they realize that they need to do some things to entice players and Damian Miller is the right kind of guy. He is a winner. Put a check mark in the right column in terms of what Matt thinks about Milwaukee."
MILWAUKEE -- Long shot or not, the Brewers are exploring a pitch for free agent right-hander Matt Clement.
General manager Doug Melvin has had at least one telephone conversation with Barry Axelrod, who represents the 30-year-old pitcher. The idea was sparked during the Brewers' contract discussions with catcher Damian Miller, who was a favorite of Clement's during their year together with the Cubs in 2003.
"We'll talk to Matt Clement," Melvin said. "It doesn't mean that we're going to be able to sign him, but at least it gives you the opportunity that over the past two years we never had. We would sit and wait for players to call who had sincere interest, and it never happened. Now, the phone will ring periodically, to the point where we don't always have to be the aggressor. ... Those are steps we have to take before we can go out there and talk about being attractive as a ballclub."
Axelrod confirmed the mutual curiosity, though he said Melvin placed the inital phone call.
"I told him that there are some things about the Brewers that are intriguing to Matt, among them that they are in the National League and in the same division that Matt has played in," Axelrod said. "At the time we talked, the Damian Miller thing was just a rumor. ... Matt is very partial to him."
That rumor became hard fact on Tuesday, when Miller signed a three-year pact with Milwaukee.
Miller's contract was for three years and guarantees about $3 million per season, about 40 percent of what Clement is reportedly seeking over the same number of years. Even with plans to modestly increase payroll under new owner-elect Mark Attanasio, that type of contract may be out of Milwaukee's reach.
Still, Melvin said, just getting consideration from a player like Clement is a positive development. According to Miller, the image of Milwaukee as Major League Baseball's frozen tundra is beginning to thaw.
"Three years ago, I might not have made this decision," Miller said. "I saw the improvement in the organization, from [Melvin and Ash] down to Ned Yost and the competitive team that these guys are putting on the field."
Maybe Clement is taking note, too. A right-hander with a nasty sinking fastball, he posted a 9-13 record with the Cubs in 2004 despite finishing in the top 20 in the NL with a 3.68 ERA. Clement ranked seventh in the league with 190 strikeouts.
Plenty of teams are after Clement -- "many more than I anticipated," according to Axelrod. Clement told a newspaper over the holiday weekend that Cleveland has been the most aggressive suitor, and the Blue Jays, Red Sox and White Sox are reportedly in the running. According to one account, Clement may be seeking a three-year contract for about $24 million.
Axelrod said he also had a very brief discussion with Melvin about another client, St. Louis' Matt Morris. It could help that Morris' wife is from southern Wisconsin, but Axelrod said Melvin expressed concern about the health of Morris' right shoulder. The pitcher underwent arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday to clean up some fraying of the labrum.
For Brewers fans, even hearing names like Clement and Morris associated with Milwaukee brings some warmth to the winter.
"I think they are trying," Axelrod said. "I really do like Doug Melvin and his ability. I like Ned Yost and his ability. The one thing they can't control is the disadvantageous position they find themselves in in terms of how much money they have to spend. That's not just me being a greedy agent representing a player -- it comes back to being a competitive team.
"I think Milwaukee is going in the right direction. I think they realize that they need to do some things to entice players and Damian Miller is the right kind of guy. He is a winner. Put a check mark in the right column in terms of what Matt thinks about Milwaukee."