BOSTON (AP) – Right-hander Matt Clement and the Boston Red Sox are closing in on a three-year contract worth $25 million, according to the pitcher’s agent.

The defending World Series champions targeted the hard-throwing free agent after losing Pedro Martinez to the New York Mets.

“A very important issue with Matt was being with a team that has a very good chance of being in the postseason for all three years,” Clement’s agent, Barry Axelrod, told The Associated Press on Saturday.

“It’s in essence all done,” he said.

The team usually does not comment until the player passes a physical, which Axelrod said could take place early next week.

Clement was 9-13 with a 3.68 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 181 innings last season with the Chicago Cubs. The 30-year-old Clement is 69-75 with a 4.34 ERA in his career with the Padres, Marlins and Cubs.

Clement’s signing was first reported by MLB.com and The Boston Globe.

He became sought after by several teams after Martinez went to the Mets, Carl Pavano to the New York Yankees, and Tim Hudson – via trade – to the Atlanta Braves.

The Red Sox had laid the groundwork for the deal with Clement in case Martinez left, Axelrod said.

“They were in it all along (but) it heated up with Boston after Pedro went to the Mets,” Axelrod said.

Martinez signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Mets, leaving the Red Sox after seven seasons.

The Red Sox have shown little interest in re-signing free agent pitcher Derek Lowe.