The Clemens Conundrum

Jason Michael Barker

Roger Clemens wants a trade.

Not just any trade, however. The Rocket wants to be traded to a contender, with whom he'll get a shot at the World Series title which has eluded him during his 15-year career, all but two of which were spent with the Boston Red Sox.

When Clemens signed with the Jays as a free agent following the 1996 season, he made a gentleman's agreement with then-President Paul Beeston which allowed him to ask for a trade if he feels the Jays aren't a contender. What "contender" means, however, is unclear.

The Jays finished 88-74 last season, four games behind the wild card-winning Red Sox, Clemens' former team. Certainly, then, it seems that they were "contenders" in 1998, as much as any non- New York Yankee team could be. So why should 1999 be any different?

Young outfielders Jose Cruz Jr. and Shannon Stewart should continue their improvement. The former showed his ability to draw walks and get on base, while the latter displayed the same, in addition to becoming one of the league's top stolen base threats. Shawn Green, who put up good but not spectacular numbers last season, can be counted on for power and speed in the mold of Raul Mondesi.

In the infield 1B Carlos Delgado, who missed the first part of the season due to an off-season injury, had a tremendous year once he came back, and could conceivably be the top 1B in the league in a season or two. There should be an upgrade at the hot corner, with perennial prospect Tom Evans taking over for last season's whipping boy, Ed Sprague. The Jays are relatively weak up the middle (2B/SS), but that was the case last season as well.

The pitching looks to improve as well, with promising youngsters Roy Halliday, Kelvim Escobar and Chris Carpenter in a rotation which could have included Clemens as the ace. Veteran Woody Williams is far from an ace, but is more than acceptable for a fifth starter.

Yet for some reason, Clemens doesn't see the upside of his present team. He reportedly was upset at the decision not to give in to Jose Canseco's ridiculous contract demands, in reality a very wise move. Canseco turned down Toronto's very reasonable, one-year, incentive-laden deal, opting instead to sign with the Devil Rays. Terms were undisclosed at press time, but it's safe to assume he got more than the Jays offered (and less than the $6-7 million he was reportedly seeking).

If anything, Clemens should be upset that his manager is a liar, or that ownership has lowered the payroll to a projected $40-43M. Instead, he's criticized the decision not to keep Canseco, or to bring in other players. What players should have been brought in, pray tell?

Roberto Alomar, who left Toronto in a huff and seemed set on playing with his brother anyway? Mo Vaughn or Rafael Palmeiro, who would have simply taken at-bats away from Delgado? Randy Johnson, the attitude problem who wanted a four-year deal? Or perhaps another outfielder, who would have taken playing time away from Green, Cruz and Stewart.

It just doesn't make sense, Roger. The Jays will be a solid contender next season, even in the big- spending AL East. If you didn't want to play in Toronto for the length of your contract, you shouldn't have signed there in the first place.

Instead, Toronto is in a situation similar to what the Mariners went through last season with Randy Johnson -- they have a player they have to trade, and every team in the league knows it. His value is decreased, and thus they can't quite get what they could for him under normal circumstances.

The top suitors are said to be Houston, Texas, New York, and Cleveland. His new team would have to renegotiate Clemens' contract, or risk him exercising his right as a veteran traded in the middle of a multi-year deal to demand a trade after one season. This delicate situation is likely the cause of the trade not having happened any sooner.

about the author

Jason Michael Barker is a nice young man who regales the folks at the local senior center with his tales of MLB management stupidity. Help the seniors beg him to stop.