Can Matt Clement Revive Career?

Free agent Matt Clement is attracting a lot of interest, with the Pittsburg Pirates now throwing their bid in the hat along with the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Royals, Padres and Blue Jays. Having been in rehabilitation for the whole of 2007 since season ending shoulder surgery since September 2007, the once promising pitcher, nicknamed "DoorMatt" during his unfortunate stint with the Boston Red sox, is looking to revive his career.

Known for his sinking fastball and hard slider mixed with a four-seamer and changeup, Clement might do well to seek a suitable team with modest prospects to re-establish himself as a Major League pitcher that teams had difficulty facing in the past. Away from the intense media glare would suit someone hoping to recover from potential career threatening injuries, while he would need to temper his tendency to overwork his arm.

On that point, if the Cincinnati Reds do show any interest, given that ex-Cubs manager Dusty Baker (who coached Clement during his time with the Cubs) now presides over them, it would be ill-advised to make that move a reality. Baker was known to push Clement and leave him in games for too long, which could have indirectly contributed to the right-hander's subsequent decline.