Clemens will sign a contract with the Twins, Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reports.
The details of Clemens' contract aren't known, but it's expected that he's getting a minor-league deal from the Twins after he was cut by the Padres a week after getting throttled in spring training. The Twins don't have much in the way of bullpen depth, so if Clemens performs well with Triple-A Rochester, he could get a look with the big club before long.
... See More... See Less
Paul Clemens: To be released by Padres
Rotowire
The Padres will release Clemens, the club announced Monday.
Clemens allowed a brutal 7.50 ERA and 1.83 WHIP over his 12 innings of spring work for the Padres. Considering Clemens had been pitching at or near replacement level for much of his career (4.89 ERA, 1.49 WHIP over 66 career MLB games), his lackluster spring performance left the Padres with little reason to believe he could contribute in 2017.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Paul Clemens: Continues to struggle
Rotowire
Clemens surrendered a pair of runs on four hits over 3.1 innings Saturday. He walked two and struck out one in a loss to the Brewers.
Clemens continues to struggle this spring, posting a 6.48 ERA across 8.1 innings. His control has been wonky (four walks to four strikeouts), and he has already surrendered two homers. The chances of Clemens making the starting rotation are getting slimmer by the appearance. His best shot to make the 25-man roster would be as a reliever or long man, neither of which will generate much fantasy buzz.
Clemens didn't fare well in his Cactus League debut, giving up three runs on four hits while walking one and striking out none in a two-inning start.
This was not the start Clemens was hoping for when you consider he is one of several options vying for a rotation spot on the Opening Day roster. All of the damage was done on a three-run shot by Nelson Cruz in the first inning. Clemens has struggled with keeping the ball in the yard, allowing 1.8 HR/9 in 71.1 innings last season. The 29-year-old will have to show more this spring if he wants to stay in competition for a starting job, let alone make the 25-man roster.
Clemens could still make the Opening Day roster as a reliever if he doesn't earn a rotation spot this spring, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
The Padres look to be taking a "best available" approach to their arms this spring, looking to simply fill roles with the best talent they have at their disposal. Clemens did well as a starter last season (3.67 ERA in 12 starts) and he will start the team's Cactus League opener Saturday, but the bullpen is not out of the question for the 29-year-old.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Paul Clemens: To start Cactus League opener
Rotowire
Clemens will take the hill in the Padres' first Cactus League game on Saturday, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
With San Diego's pitching staff shaping up to be near the bottom of the league in terms of talent, Clemens will have a great opportunity Saturday to boost his candidacy for a back-end rotation spot. The 29-year-old journeyman made 12 starts for the Padres in 2016, posting a 3.67 ERA in 61.1 innings of work. His effectiveness will likely come down to whether he can demonstrate improved command of his curveball, which has given him issues at times in the past.
Clemens took a no-decision after allowing one run on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings against the Diamondbacks on Sunday.
Clemens completed a season-high six innings to earn his first and only quality start in 14 starts this year. That had more to do with San Diego limiting his pitch counts, as he exceeded 90 pitches only once during those outings. Clemens struggled for most of the summer after making his season debut on June 20, but seemed to figure things towards the end of the season. Over his last four starts, he flashed a 0.83 ERA while limiting opponents to a .169/.229/.286 batting line. If he's turned the corner, he may prove to be a useful fantasy option in 2017.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Paul Clemens: Picks up fourth win over Dodgers
Rotowire
Clemens (4-5) allowed one run on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts over five innings in a win Tuesday over the Dodgers.
Clemens still isn't going deep into games, but he has found a groove over his past three starts, as he has allowed just one earned run on nine hits over 15.2 innings in that span with an 8:2 K:BB. He is still very much pitching to contact -- he drew just four swinging strikes in 64 pitches -- but he is using spacious Petco Park to his advantage (nine flyouts) and has lowered his ERA to 4.27. He could be working his way into consideration for a rotation spot next season with this late-season run.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Paul Clemens: Takes no-decision against Diamondbacks
Rotowire
Clemens allowed two unearned runs on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings and took a no-decision Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.
Clemens had an ERA of 5.44 through his first 13 starts but hasn't allowed an earned run in either of his past two. He has just six strikeouts over 10.2 innings in those two starts, but has kept the ball in the yard and walked just two batters. He'll be able to survive in Petco Park if he can continue to pitch with such solid control, even if his results are likely to be unspectacular without better ability to miss bats.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Paul Clemens: Shuts out Giants over five innings for win
Rotowire
Clemens (3-5) threw five shutout innings with three hits, a walk and two strikeouts in Monday's win over the Giants.
Clemens was pulled after just 74 pitches in his best start of the year thus far. In nine previous outings of three innings or more, Clemens had yet to give up fewer than four hits or two runs. He still owns a rough 4.94 ERA and a 40:28 K:BB, so we'll need to see more like this before we can believe it's a new normal.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Paul Clemens: Takes fifth loss against Red Sox
Rotowire
Clemens (2-5) allowed five runs on nine hits and three walks and struck out three over four innings in a loss Tuesday to Boston.
Clemens hasn't managed to go more than five innings yet in 11 starts this season. He just hasn't shown good enough control to last deep into ballgames, as Tuesday's start marked the fifth time he was walked at least three batters. If he can't lower his 4.9 BB/9, he'll struggle to keep his rotation spot.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Paul Clemens: Strikes out season-high six in Wednesday's loss
Rotowire
Clemens (2-3) pitched 5.1 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out six Cubs in Wednesday's loss.
Clemens five runs allowed Wednesday were the most he's given up in an outing this year. That was offset somewhat by a season-best six strikeouts and no walks, but ultimately the 28-year-old wasn't much of a match for the Cubs talented lineup. Since debuting with the Padres on July 4, Clemens is 1-3 with a 6.47 ERA. Needless to say, the righty is best left on the wire under a majority of formats.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Paul Clemens: Muddles through five innings in no-decision
Rotowire
Clemens (2-2) clogged the bases with runners Thursday, allowing eight hits and three walks in five innings, but limited the damage to only three runs in a no-decision against Arizona.
This was a near twin of Clemens' last start -- both times, he gave up three runs over five innings with a 3:3 K:BB. Unfortunately, that's about the most we can expect from the 28-year-old righty, leaving him useless in the vast majority of fantasy formats.
Padres' Paul Clemens: Confirmed as Saturday's starter
Rotowire
Clemens (back) has been confirmed as Saturday's starter against the Phillies.
Clemens downplayed the back issue that forced him off the hill last weekend, saying immediately following the game that he would not miss his next scheduled start. He has indeed gained clearance to face Jake Thompson and the Phillies, and will look to earn his first win with San Diego after coming over from Miami on a waiver claim at the end of June.
