It appears the Toronto Blue Jays are about to add another pitcher to the mix for their starting rotation.
Matt Clement has agreed to a minor-league deal with the club, MLB.com reported Thursday. A team official said nothing was official yet, although an announcement could come Friday. The Blue Jays pursued Clement when he became a free agent after the 2004 season, but he signed a three-year deal with the Boston Red Sox instead.
The right-hander was an all-star in 2005, when he went 13-6 with a 4.57 ERA in 32 starts but a series of shoulder problems began in 2006 and he hasn't pitched in the big-leagues since.
Clement signed a $1US.5-million, one-year contract with St. Louis last January before he was released in the summer. He threw 32 2-3 innings over 16 appearances, four starts, at three levels of the minors in 2008.
The 34-year-old is 87-86 with a 4.47 ERA over nine big- league seasons.
With the looming loss of free-agent A.J. Burnett, the Blue Jays have just three starters confirmed for their 2009 rotation, ace Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch and David Purcey.
