No room on M’s roster for Clement’s bat

The prospect of Jeff Clement laying claim to a roster spot as an extra bat off the bench and backing up Kenji Johjima at catcher has been rendered moot, as Clement was one of six players sent by the M’s to the minor leagues.

Clement was never able to find a groove this spring, batting .158 with two RBI in 11 games.  Thus, the left-handed hitting backstop with the short, compact power storke will once again don the tools of ignorance at Triple-A Tacoma, where he racked up nearly 60 extra base hits in 455 at-bats last season.  Despite impressing in a brief cup of coffee at the end of last season- including a dramatic game-winning home-run against the Rangers two days after tying a game against the Indians with a similar blast- the likelihood that the 24-year old former first round pick was going to win a spot on the roster was slim, especially with the numbers he posted this spring.  Still, Clement has shown little triple with Triple-A pitching, and he should be suiting up in Mariners’ teal-and-blue at the first signs of trouble from either Joh or back-up catcher Jamie Burke.

Also demoted was reliever Cesar Jimenez, allowing Eric O’Flaherty to lay claim to the situational left-hander spot in the bullpen, as Arthur Rhodes is being kept on a short leash due to his Tommy John recovery.  Others not making the addition to the big league roster include Jon Huber, who posted a scintillating 1.06 ERA over 16 appearances with the M’s in 2006 before losing playing time in 2007 to a forearm injury, Sean White, Matt Tuiasosopo, and non-roster invitee Phillip Barzilla.

The M’s roster is taking shape as the days count down to Opening Day.