Seattle Mariner Fans: What Do We Do With Jeff Clement?

After hearing from multiple sources that Jeff Clement might not make the Mariners opening day roster, I starting thinking, what should they do with him? Could they trade him? Could he be the Mariners' full time designated hitter and follow in the footsteps of All-Star Edgar Martinez?

Now, the reasons for him possibly not making the roster, are bold but true. Mariner's manager Don Wakamatsu wants a defensive back-up catcher and Clement is by no means that, so that leaves Rob Johnson.

Johnson isn't bad with his bat either, he is actually among the best hitting catchers in spring training right now, but his defense is more pure than Clement's has developed into.

After talking to baseball experts (AKA my bus driver), I have decided that the Mariners should trade away Jeff Clement to a team with young pitching and in need of a catcher (pretty obvious).

Matches

• Boston Red Sox
• New York Yankees
• Chicago White Sox

I believe the Red Sox are by far the most likely to give up a young pitching arm for Jeff Clement. Among the Red Sox pitchers only two arms really stand out as front runners, Justin Masterson and Clay Buchholz.

In both of those choices we gain a young, cheap, and reliable pitcher that is both a starter and a reliever. So basically we get another Brandon Morrow or Ryan Rowland-Smith.

The Red Sox are going to be in need of some help for the aging Jason Varitek who the Mariners practically gave to the Red Sox as a gift along with Derek Lowe.

That's what scares me, the last time we traded away a young catcher to the Red Sox, he became a three-time all-star, two-time World Series winner and one-time Gold Glove winner. Not to mention he has caught the most ever no hitters with four.

Could Jeff Clement do that again for the Red Sox? Could he become the captain of a World Series team as Varitek did? Let's hope not.

But then, what if we kept Clement as our designated hitter? I could see him succeeding there, of course he will be splitting time with the legendary Ken Griffey Jr.

For all of you who believe he could be a first baseman for the M's in the future, think again.

They already have Chris Shelton, Mike Sweeney, and Russell Branyan at first now and Mike Carp is not far from joining them.

As far as the other positions go, they are full with players now and stars in the farm system.

Sorry Jeff Clement, but your the odd man out.