Matt Clement is trying to get back to the big leagues and the Toronto Blue Jays appear to have the widest doorway to walk through.

In need of starting pitching, Toronto signed Clement, 34, to a minor league deal Friday and extended him an invitation to spring training.

The Butler native hasn't pitched in the major leagues since June 2006 and threw only 32X\c innings over 16 appearances in the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system last season before being released in August.

"Teams only have 40 major league roster spots and they're very protective of those,"said Clement's agent, Barry Axelrod. "In situations like Matt's, with injury concerns, minor league contracts are the way to go."

Should Clement make the Blue Jays' 25-man roster out of spring training, a one-year major league contract, along with an option year, already has been negotiated.

Axelrod said three or four organizations had interest in signing Clement to a minor league deal.

"Toronto's situation offers the best fit for Matt. He has familiarity there and they're trying to fill out their starting rotation,"Axelrod said.

The Blue Jays showed interest in Clement when he became a free agent after the 2004 season. Their pitching coach, Brad Arnsberg, worked with Clement when both were with Florida in 2001.

Clement has kept in touch with Arnsberg over the years and sought his advice before beginning his throwing program this winter.

"The one thing that hurt me last year the most was I never got mechanically right,"Clement was quoted as saying on the Toronto Blue Jays' web site. "I was still throwing how I was before I got hurt, trying to protect my arm.

"I'm very anxious to get to work with (Arnsberg), because when we worked together in Florida, it didn't take him very long to figure out what I needed to do."

Clement has experienced no physical pain or setbacks since undergoing major shoulder surgery in late September 2006.

"He seems pretty confident he's going to make it back because of that fact,"Axelrod said.

When it became evident Toronto was going to lose starting pitcher A.J. Burnett to free agency — he signed a five-year deal with the Yankees last week — "the Blue Jays began shopping for pitching," Axelrod added.

That shopping probably isn't finished. The Blue Jays have only 20-game winner Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch (13-9, 3.58 ERA) and David Purcey (3-6, 5.54 ERA)as major league starters right now.

Dustin McGowan (6-7, 19 starts in 2008) had shoulder surgery July 31 and may not be ready for spring training. Shaun Marcum (9-7, 3.39) needs Tommy John surgery on his elbow and is expected to miss the 2009 season.

The Blue Jays plan to take a wait-and-see approach with Clement.

"I think we'll have a better idea once we see him,"Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said on the web site. "Right now, we really don't know what he is, outside of he's feeling a lot better."

Axelrod said Clement is eager to prove his doubters wrong.

"He has a chance to go to camp, prove he's healthy and still has the ability to pitch in the big leagues,"Axelrod said. "That's what he wanted."

Toronto finished 86-76 last year, fourth in the American League East, 11 games behind division-winning Tampa Bay.

Clement is 87-86 with a 4.47 ERAin nine major league seasons.