Competition in sight for Clement

The Red Sox are one of seven teams that have an offer on the table to righthander Matt Clement, who came up in the Padres' system with Theo Epstein and remains one of the most attractive pitching options left on the market despite a career record under .500.

The Blue Jays, Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, White Sox, and Indians are the other teams in the bidding for Clement, who is expected to command an offer of at least three years, at an average annual value of $8 million, if not more.

Clement's agent, Barry Axelrod, confirmed the Sox' offer last night.

"There was no real change [in Clement's status] today," Axelrod said. "We've gotten our information together, and Matt's going to go home, talk things over with his wife, and probably will have a decision by the end of the week."

The Sox also remain heavily involved in negotiations for Oakland ace Tim Hudson, and with the Marlins for A.J. Burnett, although there were indications yesterday that the Marlins would not move Burnett unless they were able to acquire Hudson. By coming to terms with free agent shortstop Edgar Renteria, the Sox now could use top prospect Hanley Ramirez as a bargaining chip, though it's unlikely Epstein would part with Ramirez in anything other than a trade for Hudson.

It is unclear how much interest the Sox have in lefthander Odalis Perez, and according to industry sources last night, they were not expected to take a run at free agent lefthander Eric Milton, who last week appeared on the verge of signing with the Yankees but may be newly available, depending on whether the Yankees can trade for Randy Johnson.

Several pitchers have turned down the Sox, including Carl Pavano, Jon Lieber, and Brad Radke, three of the top righthanders on the market. Derek Lowe also is on the record as having declined salary arbitration from the Sox.

Accenting staff
Just by the sound of his voice, it should be no trouble identifying the newest pitcher to officially join the Red Sox. Lefthander John Halama is a native of Brooklyn (Bay Harbor) and when he was in the eighth grade, according to his recollection, he pitched against a kid named Manny Ramirez.

"I didn't own him then," Halama said with a smile, "and I certainly don't own him now. Manny could always hit."

The Red Sox envision Halama, who will be 33 Feb. 22, serving in a swing role as starter and long man, the same role he has filled the last three years for the Mariners, A's, and Devil Rays.

"Sure, I'd prefer to start," said Halama, whose best pitch is his changeup, "but I'll do whatever the organization asks of me."

Halama has the distinction of being one of the pitchers, with Freddy Garcia, who was traded by his original team, the Houston Astros, for Johnson.

"People said, `Who are those guys?' " Halama said. "I think Randy won a total of 19 games that season [1998]. Freddy and I won 28 together our first year in Seattle [Garcia 17-9, Halama 11-10 in 1999].

Halama has known first-hand the yin and yang of baseball. He was on the Mariners' team in 2001 that won a record 116 games -- he was 10-7 -- and last season he pitched for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who finished 30 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the American League East.

"It's so much fun going to the ballpark knowing you're going to win," Halama said of that season with the Mariners. "We could be down, 10-0, after two innings, and we figured we'd win, 15-12."

Halama appeared in 34 games for the D-Rays last season (14 starts) and was 7-6 with a 4.70 ERA. Righthanded hitters hit 15 home runs in 83 innings against him last season.

"I usually keep the ball in the ballpark," said Halama, who also throws a fastball and sinker. "Maybe the Monster will keep some of those balls in play."