Would you take Roger Clemens?

Ewww.....hmm, tough choice. I want to take the high road since he kind of screwed us over that one time, but if he could pitch close to what he is capable, 2-3 million would be a bargain.

 

posted by Kam

LOL Me too!! He would get nailed on the first pitch he saw, doesn't matter who is the pitcher

 

Definately take the Rocket for that amount of Money!!! Even if he is on the later stages of his career, he will fill seats at Minute Maid.

 

I've heard a rumor that the Astros have expressed interest in Roger Clemens and he is also intrerested in the Astros. I don't have anything concrete, just stuff I've heard on this site and others.

I have heard more about a "Hidalgo to Colorado for Pierre and Hampton deal" and if the 'Stros pull the trigger on that deal it would leave no room for the Rocket.

 

i just can't picture Clemens seriously considering an N.L. team... if he really wants to come home, maybe Texas would consider him... they need pitching, but I don't know if Hicks would dish out anymore $$

 

One of the reasons the Yankees are going to be letting guys like Clemens and Hitchcock go is that after the loss Steinbrenner intends to cut payroll. I heard that on the radio. He doesn't see the value in that large of a payroll and losing in the first round. He'll still have the largest payroll...but nowhere close to $140M.

They also speculated that he'd be letting go of Raul Mondesi...let the speculation begin.

 

for 2-3 million, I would take Clemens. Any more money though and you can count me out.

 

well, the yankees don't owe clemens $10M -- that's why he's a free agent -- contract's done. so this notion that he'd take $2-3M to play in houston....? not happening. didn't take less in '97, didn't take less in '99.... where he plays is irrelevant -- he follows the money.

 

The Yankees owe Clemens $10.3M next season. My understanding is that the money was deferred when he signed the contract. That is why they owe him the money regardless of where he plays next year.

I still don't think he'd go for $2-3M though.

 

Ric

The Yankees do owe Clemens 10 million regardless of if he plays for them or not. In essence the Yankees signed Clemens to a 30 million, 2 year extension for 2001 and 2002. They agreed to pay the contract over 3 years (10 million a year in 2001, 2002 and 2003), but the contract ended after this season. Here is a link to one story that mentions it:

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/spo...78oct09,0,6175442.story?coll=ny-yankees-print

Here is the crux of the story:

"Both George Steinbrenner and Torre think the world of Clemens. But the unusual two-year extension The Boss gave Clemens in August 2000 (the Yankees wanted to spread out the payments over three years) throws unusual factors into the decision regarding his return.

As per that extension, Clemens will receive $10.3 million from the Yankees in 2003, regardless of whether he plays for them. The 40-year-old has spoken of that $10.3 million as "deferred money," and he wants a 2003 "salary," as well. In the team's eyes, however, that $10.3 million should count, in spirit, toward his salary. And that's where a team like the Texas Rangers or Houston Astros, both located in Clemens' home state, could theoretically swoop in and snag the future Hall of Famer."

 

on a radio program this morning, an anonymous source was quoted as saying that Clemens is looking for at least 3-4 million on top of his 10 million owed by the Yanks. I don't think Big George would go for it. I don't think anyone will pay him that kind of money based on this year's performance.

 

George won't go for it because he'd be paying Clemens $14M. Any other team likely would go for it because 3 to 4M is what an average pitcher makes.

 

Yeah, I'm sure a team like the Rangers would be willing to spend up to 6-7 million on a pitcher like Clemens...it would be right in character for them.

 

Hicks and Clemens both attended UT. I know this is business, but hmmmm..... And Roger would be the ace of the Rangers right now, at 38 or however old he is. Come to think of it, if I were pitching for the Rangers, Chan Ho Park would be the second best Chan on that team.

 

yep, i stand corrected. but he'll still go where the money is, regardless.

 

No on Clemens.

Just continue to develop young pitchers. For the most part, its worked out beautifully for the Astros (Oswalt, Miller, Hernandez pre-injuries, Reynolds). They are in a fantastic position, with possibly 2 aces at their heart of the rotation.

Pursuing Clemens (or Hampton) would be a knee-jerk reaction.

 

Yes on Clemens.

The staff is made up of kiddies. Mlicki is gone. Reynolds is 75% gone (the only way he returns is if no one else makes a reasonable offer).

Baseball aside, The PR value alone would make it worthwhile for Drayton.

 

Wasn't Clemens so pissed off at Hunsicker a few years back that he insisted he would never consider joining the Astros? Not that a bit of money wouldn't change his tune, I'm guessing.

 

Without a doubt, if I'm Drayton, I sign him. Whether it costs 1 mill or 5 mill. Drayton NEEDS to make some kind of splash in the offseason, before the city's interest in the Astros go down the tubes. Remember the interest in the Astros when we brought Drabek and Swindell back home? Well, that could be repeated, by bringing in Clemens.

The Rockets are/have been marketing Yao for a while, and have a new arena in the works. The Texans obviously are the flavor of the week right now. The Astros are coming off a disappointing season where attendance has been in a steady decline since Enron Field opened. Moreover, the whole labor issue thing seemed to sour many fans.

If the Astros stay pat and add only 3rd-tier FAs to the roster, I wouldn't be surprised if the attendance dropped to 25k or less next year.

The Astros now have competition in the limited sports market in Houston. Now is the time to step up to the plate. The novelty of Enron Field has gone down. People aren't going to go see the Astros just for the ballpark. Give the fans a reason to watch the Astros in 2003.