http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/3594380 Astros owner: We're not trading Clemens Story Tools: Print Email XML Ken Rosenthal / Posted: 1 hour ago If the Yankees think Roger Clemens might be the answer to their rotation problems, they need to think again. The Astros will not trade Clemens, team owner Drayton McLane said Thursday in an interview with The Sporting News. "There are no conditions under which I would do that," McLane said. "I'm committed to winning, not breaking up a team." McLane denied published reports that he has an oral agreement with Clemens to trade the pitcher if the Astros fall out of contention, saying, "I would never have agreed to that." Clemens, 42, would receive a $3 million assignment bonus on top of his $18 million salary if he were traded. The money he is owed likely would serve as a deterrent to every team but the Yankees — but Clemens might only consider a return to New York if the Yankees were in contention. The Yankees are 11-17, 7 1/2 games back in the AL East, while the Astros are 11-15, seven games back in the NL Central. The Astros' sagging offense, however, should receive a boost Friday with the return of left fielder Lance Berkman, who has been out all season since undergoing knee surgery in November. Berkman eventually could move to first base if Jeff Bagwell is sidelined by his arthritic right shoulder, at which point the team could try to acquire an outfielder such as the Mets' Mike Cameron. Poor run support — and a blown save by closer Brad Lidge on Wednesday — have resulted in Clemens going 1-1 in his first six starts, despite a 1.29 ERA that ties him with the Marlins' Dontrelle Willis for the league lead. Even if the Astros continued to flounder, Clemens would risk tarnishing his image if he clamored for a trade out of his hometown. McLane said that he is obligated to his ticket buyers to keep Clemens and make the strongest attempt possible at helping the team reach its first World Series. "Integrity and honesty — those are some of the main reasons I wouldn't (trade Clemens)," McLane said. "People are very excited about Roger. He has won seven Cy Youngs. He's a Houston person, a Texan. "I would be going against their desires to see him, the people who bought tickets. I'm committed to winning. I'm a very loyal person. (A trade) is not something I'd consider." McLane demonstrated his reluctance to dump high-priced veterans last season when the Astros declined to trade center fielder Carlos Beltran before the July 31 non-waiver deadline. The Astros were 52-52 on that date, six games back in the wild-card race. But they went 40-18 down the stretch to win the wild card, then beat the Braves to win their first post-season series and extended the Cardinals to seven games in the NLCS. The current Astros club has been weakened by the free-agent defections of Beltran and Jeff Kent, but Clemens, Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte form an impressive top of the rotation, and Lidge has emerged as one of the game's top closers. The Astros entered Thursday ranked fourth in the National League in ERA, but only 12th in runs per game. An improved offense could make them a wild-card contender in the wide-open NL.
It's nice to hear him deny it However... "I would be going against their desires to see him, the people who bought tickets. I'm committed to winning. I'm a very loyal person. (A trade) is not something I'd consider I wish Drayton had that "committment" mindset when it was time to resign Kent and Beltran.
I just threw up a little in my mouth. Yeah, I know..I know...the $100 million + offer to Beltran wasn't real. It was all fake. here's drayton saying he isn't trading the guy you assumed he would....and you find a way to complain. why am i not surprised?
Why even bother Max? If we'd have resigned Beltran and Kent, the same whiners would be whining that we weren't undefeated right now and that Drayton hadn't gone out and paid the money to get Ted Williams head out of the freezer. They're getting boring, seriously.
because i'm addicted to the Houston Astros. i have a problem. Hi...my name is MadMax...i'm an Astroholic.
Oh, I understand that, I'm one of them too. It's just so tedious to respond to these idiotic claims by the whiners.
yeah...seems to be a trendy pick...tough to not like George's horse but I like Sun King as a wildcard.
i like SunKing, too simply because he's Charismatic's colt! I loved Charismatic. i picked Afleet Alex after the Triple Crown events last year. so i'm sticking with him. i've got a thread on the Kentucky Derby in the hangout...go make your pick there. did you know PhiSlammaJamma picked Birdstone 33-1 last year???
Hey guys, quit ruining a good foundation of a fight between the whiners and the sunshiners with some lousy horse racing talk.
We'll see about that. $8.5/year for two years is a lot of money, especially when we'd have had to outbid that since he was going to his childhood team. It's not like Biggio's been killing us out there.
Its not Biggio's spot he would be taking. It was 2 or 3 weeks worth (and about 10 losses) of Luke Scott, Chris Burke and Eric Bruntlett
