Kenji Johjima Signs Extension

that is a surprise. it shows that japanese players dont care so much about the money. i see jeff getting traded at the deadline if the mariners are in the race.

Come on Theo the last C prospect we snaked from the Mariners worked out well. Can Tavarez be the Heatcliff Slocumb of '08? Bavasi is a complete fool, it could happen.

Arod - as a Mariners fan, that's not the least bit funny...

tim what are the chances with the extension that clement going to the reds in exchange for griffey it gives the reds a nice young catcher and allows right field to open up for jay bruce

That would be a steal for the Reds.

Clement is going to be good. However, I do agree that it won't be at C though. 1st base or DH is where his value lies.

But if Clement takes over as DH, what about Vidro?!?!

What's a realistic trade scenario under which the Red Sox could get Clement? They'd probably ask for Ellsbury. Would they do Crisp and Hansen for Clement? They get a solid outfielder and a live arm (looks like Hansen has his slider back) and we get a catcher they aren't going to use.

Makes sense to me. Nobody (except for homer fans that want him for their team) sees Clement sticking at catcher. Johjima's done well with the M's staff and hits well for a good defensive catcher. Clement's eventual displacement of Vidro will be a huge improvement.

How about Jed Lowrie for Jeff Clement. The Red Sox get a catcher to replace Varitek and the Mariners get a player who can spend time anywhere in the infield. It makes sense.

The Mariners WILL NOT trade Clement or Balentien for Griffey... A stud minor leaguer with six control years for a season of Griffey and a bad option is not going to happen. This is MLBTR.com not a fantasy baseball sitesorry reds fans!

Griffey has limited trade value because of his age, being prone to injury, having a $16.5MM option with a $4MM buyout, this season he's going to cost atleast $12MM, and most importantly, he's a 10 (in the major leagues) & 5 (consecutive with the team) player, so he can refuse any deal. My guess for Griffey would be a 4 for 2 deal.

The first guy would be catcher Rob Johnson, who is ready to start in the majors right now. He's got great defensive skills, is athletics, runs great for a catcher and has some pop... Think Dan Wilson with wheels, since Danny came from Cinci with Sweet Lou, you should know a little about him if this topic interests you from a Cinci or Seattle aspect!

The second guy would be Ryan Feierabend, a lefty who turns 23 in August and throws in the high 80s and can touch 91-92 occasionally, but nothing more. He's got a decent curveball, solid changeup and lives and dies on his control... Most similar MLB player is Jarrod Washburn. Should become a solid number three or four in most rotations.

The third guy would be Miguel Cairo, an extra part that goes unused for Seattle, he would be a nice utility player for the Reds. With solid foot speed he has ability to steal a good number of bases, can play good defense at all infield positions, useful off the bench as a pinch hitter or runner, and adds veteran leadership with ability to spot start.

The fourth guy would be Enrique (Ricky) Orta, a fourth round selection out of the University of Miami, FL in 2006. He throws a fastball that can hit 91-92 with good location and he has a lot of movement on his breaking pitches that he can also locate for strikes. A solid minor league prospect with good upside if he continues to build on his success...

The Mariners would get Ken Griffey Jr. and Matt Belisle, which would give them another pitcher to help out their bullpen and who could turn the corner as a pitcher under the watchful eye of Mel Stottlemyre.

As for what happens with Clement, he's going nowhere... They aren't worried about his trade value and they didn't keep him oout of the Bedard deal only to trade him.

He was only in Tacoma to work on his catching in case they didn't extend Johjima, but with the extension it allows him to be promoted to fill the DH role and cut Vidro's ABs to keep the contract from vesting. Look for him to get into a couple games and allow Kenji more games at DH with 3 catchers on the roster. I heard someone say that they'd be surprised if he was in Tacoma for more than 10 games after having signed Johjima to a long-term contract and they're right. Vidro will still start as a DH vs. lefties though would my guess...

Oh and Joe, no that doesn't make sense 'cause they already have one infielder in Cairo that isn't being used, they have Bloomquist who plays every position and Norton who can play anywhere but shortstop. Also, they have no positions opening up and to trade a potential stater in Clement for a guy who'll have no more than a backup role on the Mariners is silly since both middle infielders are signed through the next 3+ years. Oh and Lowrie isn't projected as a capable 3B, but that's neither here nor there since Beltre should be resigned by spring training next season!

Hey Red Sox Nation, if you want Clement figure the starting offer would be Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester, plus taking back a player with a heavy contract to eat. Moving Clement is not a necessity and he can contribute immediately at the league minimum.

Clement's not just a prospect, but he's a guaranteed star, like .300/30/100 annual averages. Also, his power makes him more valuable than Ellsbury alone and he's younger... It's harder to find a 30 HR guy than it is to find someone who can steal 40 bases.

My guess is you'd have to take Batista or Washburn back in the deal, but probably Batista 'cause Washburn lives on the west coast and can be re-signed, but Batista is maybe on his last rodeo with this current contract.

I don't want to see Clement go anywhere, but that's probably what it would take, especially after he did his rendition of David Ortiz in the 9th inning twice last September!

Hey baseballguru. If you want to keep that name, starting making sense.

"Hey Red Sox Nation, if you want Clement figure the starting offer would be Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester, plus taking back a player with a heavy contract to eat."

I can't stop laughing. Seriously. I can't.

"Clement's not just a prospect, but he's a guaranteed star, like .300/30/100 annual averages."

LOL!

I agree with GoBoSox420.

""Clement's not just a prospect, but he's a guaranteed star, like .300/30/100 annual averages."

What the hell are you talking about? When did this occur? I want to know

And if you think the Reds will move Griffey and Belisle for Feierabend, Cairo, Johnson and Orta, then you really are showing a Mariners bias.

You are convinced that Clement is going to be an elite middle of the order hitter, and that he's worth a potential top of the order stud who plays spectacular defense in center and a potential number 2 starter. How does that make sense? Clement is nothing more than a top-50 prospect. A potential stud, and put an emphasis on potential.

"As for what happens with Clement, he's going nowhere... They aren't worried about his trade value and they didn't keep him oout of the Bedard deal only to trade him."

Clement was kept out of the Bedard deal because the Orioles were given the choice between Clement and Adam Jones. The Orioles already had a stud catcher in Matt Wieters, so it obviously made sense to go for the stud CF. Jones is the better young player than Clement, and Clement is still in Seattle because of his position. I expect that the Mariners would have preferred to give up Clement rather than Jones.

"Hey Red Sox Nation, if you want Clement figure the starting offer would be Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester, plus taking back a player with a heavy contract to eat. Moving Clement is not a necessity and he can contribute immediately at the league minimum.

Clement's not just a prospect, but he's a guaranteed star, like .300/30/100 annual averages. Also, his power makes him more valuable than Ellsbury alone and he's younger... It's harder to find a 30 HR guy than it is to find someone who can steal 40 bases."

Hahahhrhrhahrhr. Lol. Rofl. Everything about this is so wrong. And I hate the Red Sox!

Clement couldn't hit .300 in AAA in '06 (.257) or '07 (.275) despite normal BABIPS of .314 & .303, but he's a lock to hit .300 in MLB? Interesting.

"Clement couldn't hit .300 in AAA in '06 (.257) or '07 (.275) despite normal BABIPS of .314 & .303, but he's a lock to hit .300 in MLB? Interesting."

Thats really not fair.

Clement started his first full year of pro ball in '06 in AA. He started off hot but then had a knee injury that sidelined him nearly half the year. After he got back, the Mariners threw him right to AAA. Thats not so much a push but more of a boot to the back as far as developmental strategy goes.

2007 was his first full, injury free pro year.. and it was in AAA. I think he did pretty well and only got better and better as the season progressed. Came up for a cup of coffee and hit two game winning homers for the Ms.

So far in 2008 he's putting up ridiculous numbers in Tacoma. He just flat doesn't belong there anymore. I think the Mariners see his bat as being legit middle of the order and want him with the big club asap without him sacificing catching development. Re-signing Johjima puts it to rest and they can view him as Richie's replacement next year. Meanwhile he can keep Vidro's option from vesting by getting the bulk time at DH this year.

Clement is going to be a monster with the bat. Just sit back and watch. They way he has developed, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he is a .300/35/100+ bat for the Mariners in future.

The scenario I'm hoping for is that this is sort of like a "sign and trade." I'd love to see Seattle give Clement a look. Over at "bleedingblueandteal.com" we have an article that gives some possible scenarios.

I dont see Clement being dealt though...

“Clement couldn't hit .300 in AAA in '06 (.257) or '07 (.275) despite normal BABIPS of .314 & .303, but he's a lock to hit .300 in MLB? Interesting. “

…Not to mention the fact that his HR paces were:
4 in 245AB ~ so 10 in 600AB rate
20 in 455 AB ~ so 26 in 600 AB rate
...and that’s in the notoriously hitter-heaven PCL!!!

…Amazingly though, no one mentioned my favorite lines of all:
“Also, his power makes him more valuable than Ellsbury alone and he's younger...”

Clement ~ 24 Years Old, born August 21, 1983
Ellsbury ~ 24 Year Old, born September 11, 1983
…By my watch, that makes Jeff 21 days older…

& the ever so classic:
“It's harder to find a 30 HR guy than it is to find someone who can steal 40 bases.."

MLers with 30+ HR in 2007 ~ 26
MLers with 40+ SB in 2007 ~ 8

Ok, so maybe it was a typo…
MLers with 30+ HR in 2007 ~ 26
MLers with 30+ SB in 2007 ~ 19
…well, that didn’t make much of a difference…

But that’s “guru” for ya…

To the guys telling Baseballguru to start making sense, just feel lucky that Clemenet hasnt already been named a first ballot hall of famer like Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre, who are both undoubtedly goin in on the first ballot, unless as I said in a different thread, the league decides to induct Sexson and Beltre in immediately upon retirement, because it would be an embarrasment and an insult to these heroes of the game to make them wait it out.

Look, there is no doubt Clement has value. The sox fans throwing out Crisp + Crap offers are almost as delusional as anyone who thinks Clement is worth Ellsbury + Lester.

"This is MLBTR.com not a fantasy baseball sitesorry reds fans!"

And this is just fuckin ironic. I could say something similar to you.

This is MLBTR, not the homepage of inept and ignorant Mariner homers who dont undestand baseball, but hey, that would just be mean.

"It's harder to find a 30 HR guy than it is to find someone who can steal 40 bases."

Then how come every single year there are only a handful of guys who steal 40 bases, but about 15-20 guys that hit 30 home runs?

"""Clement's not just a prospect, but he's a guaranteed star, like .300/30/100 annual averages."

What the hell are you talking about? When did this occur? I want to know"

You didnt hear? It happened the same day that Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson received word that they have already been chosens to be hall of famers, have massive statues of themselves ereceted in cooperstown so all could pay tribute to the 2 best players ever. I would gain more knowledge on baseball spending 24 hours straight reading nothing but Wallace Matthews articles.

"Look, there is no doubt Clement has value. The sox fans throwing out Crisp + Crap offers are almost as delusional as anyone who thinks Clement is worth Ellsbury + Lester."

Actually, I think that's more delusional. While I'm convinced no Clement deal will happen, I'm certain that if it did, the package would be lot closer to Ellsbury/Lester than Crisp/whatever.

Oh and sorry for the double post but I forgot to mention:

"I would gain more knowledge on baseball spending 24 hours straight reading nothing but Wallace Matthews articles."

... GREAT line.