The 2004 baseball season could not have started much better for Matt Clement.

Pitching in his option year, the Chicago Cubs' right-hander and Butler native was 5-1 with a 2.29 earned run average on May 6.

What followed was frustration. Clement won just four of 16 decisions the rest of the season and his campaign ended a couple of weeks early because of neck and back pain.

"I've pitched in pain before and thought nothing of it," Clement said. "This is one time I probably should have sat out a start.

"If I had, things might have gone differently. I lost some close decisions against some good pitchers, but I take full responsibility for that."

Clement, 30, posted an earned run average of 2.75 in June, but won just one game. He lost a 1-0 decision to Jason Schmidt and the San Francisco Giants, ran up against Ben Sheets of Milwaukee and a few other opposing mound aces during the year.

"I chalk it up as a learning experience," Clement said. "One of my goals has always been to pitch in big games and I did a lot of that this year.

"Because of injuries to other starters, I was No. 1 in the rotation for a while and you run up against the best of other teams in that situation. Still, instead of losing 1-0, I should be winning 1-0.

"Veteran pitchers have told me that before you can start winning games like that, you have to experience losing games like that," Clement added.

Overall, his 2004 numbers were strong: 190 strikeouts in 181 innings pitched, .229 opposing batting average against, 3.68 ERA.

Clement's only down-side was his 9-13 won-loss record.

"Unfortunately, that's the number that counts," he said of the win total.

Now healthy and a free agent, Clement and his agent can begin negotiating money with other teams Friday.

Clement said nine teams have called his agent already despite numerous quality starting pitchers being on the free agent market this off-season.

Among them are Pedro Martinez, Carl Pavano, Kevin Millwood, Derek Lowe, Kris Benson, Chris Carpenter, Al Leiter, Eric Milton, Russ Ortiz, Shawn Estes, Matt Morris, Brad Radke and Woody Williams.

"I guess I'm considered among the top seven or eight available pitchers, but we'll find out," Clement said. "Pavano and Martinez are the top two. Once they go, everything will probably filter on down."

Clement made $6 million with the Cubs last year and prefers to stay with Chicago. He admits that is unlikely to happen."They have a solid four-man rotation with a lot of money tied up there," he said. "The Cubs haven't called and if I was to return, it'd probably be a one-year deal."That's the one team I'd accept less money and less years to play for, but any pitcher looks for a two or three-year deal and I'm no exception."Clement's wife, Heather, recently gave birth to the couple's second son and he would prefer to stay in the midwest or eastern portion of the country.He did not rule out signing with a club on the West Coast, however."If it comes down to three teams showing serious interest and two are in California, sure, I may go there," Clement said. "If there's seven or eight teams involved, chances are better I'll wind up closer to home."Whoever's interested in me, I'm interested in them … That's where I'm at right now."Clement admitted he would be interested in pitching for the hometown Pirates."Before my career is over, I definitely want to pitch in Pittsburgh," he said. "If it works out that now is the time, that'd be fine with me."The Pirates have a young team that's only going to get better. They're in for some exciting years."Clement is a free agent for the first time in his career. He is 69-75 with a 4.34 lifetime ERA in the major leagues. He is eight starts short of 200 in the big leagues.Clement pitched for three teams - San Diego, Florida and Chicago - during his now-expired four-year contract."Length of contract doesn't mean you're staying in the same place," Clement said. "I know all about that. A no-trade clause is something you negotiate as a final detail. I doubt that will happen in my case."I'm a little nervous, not knowing where I'll be next year, but it's exciting at the same time, anticipating how it will play out. I'd like to stay in this region, but I loved San Diego when I was there. Who knows how it's gonna go?"I'd prefer to stay in the National League, but I'm not afraid of pitching in the American League. I'd prefer to sign somewhere early, but I don't need to. It's not a high priority," he added.