The Drought, Part I: The 10 Worst Mariners Since 2001

SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 15: A general view of Safeco Field as Felix Hernandez
SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 15: A general view of Safeco Field as Felix Hernandez /
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#3: C Jeff Clement

PEORIA, AZ – FEBRUARY 21: Jeff Clement #9 of the Seattle Mariners poses for a portrait during spring training on February 21, 2008 at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
PEORIA, AZ – FEBRUARY 21: Jeff Clement #9 of the Seattle Mariners poses for a portrait during spring training on February 21, 2008 at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

If you thought Brandon Morrow hurt, just wait until you relive this one.

After a horrible 2004 season, the Mariners held the third overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft. After Justin Upton and Justin Verlander went in the first two picks, the Mariners had their choice of several future All-Stars. Amongst them, Andrew McCutchen, Ryan Braun, and Troy Tulowitzki.

Per Tulowitzki, the Mariners had told him that he was their guy with the third pick. Instead, Bill Bavasi and his team of idiots selected Jeff Clement, a catcher from USC.

Tulowitzki was then drafted seventh overall by the Colorado Rockies and went on to become of the best shortstops in MLB history.

Clement, on the other hand, proved to be a below-average defensive catcher and his bat followed suit. In just 243 career plate appearances for the Mariners, Clement hit for a 90 wRC+ while striking out 27.2% of the time.

In 2009, Clement was included in a package traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jack Wilson and Ian Snell. Clement was never able to put together any success elsewhere and retired from professional baseball in 2014 at the age of 30.