Notes: Top pick Clement signs

[Porter]

SEATTLE -- A match that was just too good for the Mariners to pass up in June has landed the organization its probable starting catcher in the not-too-distant future.
There were smiles from front and center inside the Safeco Field interview room early Tuesday afternoon when the Mariners introduced 21-year-old catcher Jeff Clement (and some of his family) to the local media during a press conference announcing the signing of their first selection -- third overall -- in the June First-Year Player Draft.

"When we drafted him, we felt this was a good fit for Jeff and this ballclub, and we're extremely pleased that it worked out," said Bob Fontaine, the Mariners' scouting director. "He will get his career started here shortly, and hopefully he will be up here in Seattle before too long."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed that the University of Southern California product received a signing bonus of close to $3.5 million.

"I've been working out and staying in shape, waiting for this day to come," Clement said. "Right after the draft, I said I was eager to get out and it wasn't going to be a [long holdout]. If it looked like it was going to get to that point, to be honest, I was going to step in and something was going to get done."

Catcher ended college career second on USC homer list

Im glad that Clement finally got signed, now he has to prove hes better than the rest of the heap....which wont take too much outside of Rivera.

[Element]

Any relation to Matt? How about that, in one day one brother gets signed, the other gets whacked in the head.

[Porter]

That wack was brutal to Matt, i hope hes ok. I dont know if he is related though.

[missionhockey21]

They're not related but Clement was a great pick for you guys. It was real upsetting to see Clement move from around the Reds pick to a possible #1 as the hype grew. A good hitting catcher like that is rare to find, especially one with that kind of power. Good luck with him.

[Element]

They're not related.

Ah well, worth a shot.

[Fishercat]

It's always a time to give a sigh of relief when a high pick signs with your team. I hate that about the baseball draft, how often players hold out for the whole year since the draft is in the middle of the season