Major League Baseball: Clanton collects $875,000

COSTA MESA - Matt Clanton, a former Orange Coast College pitcher

who was selected in the supplemental first round, 38th overall by the

Chicago Cubs in last month’s Major League Baseball draft, signed with the

Cubs Sunday.

Clanton agreed to terms for $875,000 and $28,500 in incentives, which

includes three years of college tuition in the package, Clanton’s agent,

Steve Springer said. Clanton said the Cubs initially offered $800,000 and

Springer came back with $1 million. Then, the Cubs went down to $775,000

and the talks stalled.

The Cubs later came back with $875,000 and Clanton said he wanted to

wait for $900,000, but then decided he really wanted to play.

“It was just a weight off my shoulders,” said Clanton, who was the

earliest draft selection in OCC Coach John Altobelli’s 10-year tenure. “I

just want to get out there and get after it.”

Clanton, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-hander, said he will leave today

for Mesa, Ariz., where he will pitch in bullpen sessions for the minor

league Cubs team. From there, he will later join a Class-A squad, most

likely the Boise Hawks in Idaho or the Lansing Lugnuts in Michigan.

Clanton, kicked off the Pirates’ team after he said he refused to

pitch with an arm injury May 12 in the Southern California Regional

playoffs, compiled a 6-3 record and a 2.90 ERA.