Clemens deal DONE!!! $18 million / 1 year Fox news is reporting Clemens deal could be done by tomorrow. It will be a one year deal and make him the highest paid pitcher (more than Pedro's 17.5 million).
Wow, this is surprising, I really didn't see Clemens coming back after we lost Beltran. I take it that McLane was so desperate he just told Roger to name is price. Rotation is looking pretty damn good now, if only we can add another bat to the mix, I think we just might be able to make a run.
The Astros better have plans on fortifying the bullpen (for the sake of the playoffs) because Clemens will be worn thin by the end of the season. With that said, even if the Astros happen to make the playoffs, if we bring this current lineup to the "big stage"; well..... we might as well not even unpack our bags.
I thought that the 22 mil was to scare us off so he could retire. Perhaps Dreyton's calling his bluff.
HAHA !! I knew it. Andy Petitt was the key. I really think Roger wanted to give it one more go because Andy got hurt. Heck...pitching is more important than CF anyway. DD
It was KRIV.... As far as the bullpen goes, the next section of the sportscast will excite you as M. Berman talked about the possible acquisition of................ John Franco That Gardner talked to him about being left-hand hitter specialist. Franco is deciding between three teams and the Astros are one of them, he expects his decision real soon. So the good news is there is a 2 out of 3 chance he won't pick the Astros............
certainly taking his last season to the bank lol eh, guess we had to do it almost though after losing beltran good news..... I guess. any update on CF'S?
"Report: Astros, Clemens close 01/20/2005 10:57 PM ET By Jim Molony / MLB.com HOUSTON -- The Rocket is set to soar where no pitcher has gone before. Houston television KRIV-TV, citing Major League Baseball sources, reported Thursday night the Astros and Roger Clemens were "very close to agreement" on a one-year contract that will make the seven-time Cy Young Award winner the highest-paid pitcher in history. According to the station, the Astros will give Clemens a guaranteed salary in excess of the previous record of the highest salary earned by a pitcher in a single season, $17.5 million last year by Pedro Martinez, then with the Boston Red Sox. The station also reported the agreement could be announced as soon as Friday. Clemens' representatives and the Astros were not immediately available for comment. Clemens, 18-4 with a 2.98 ERA last season, made $5 million in 2004, not counting an additional $1.8 million in incentives. Earlier this week, the right-hander filed for a record $22 million in salary arbitration. Houston offered the 10-time All-Star $13.5 million. Clemens won the Cy Young Award in 2004 after leading his hometown team to within a game of the World Series. His 18 victories were tied with Carl Pavano for the second-most in the National League. He was the starter of the All-Star Game at Minute Maid Park and helped the Astros set an attendance record on their way to the National League Championship Series. Clemens, 42, had talked of retiring following the season but never completely closed the door. He had indicated as recently as December that he would make up his mind in late January or early February. The Astros made it clear they wanted the superstar back and moved quickly once Clemens decided he wanted to play another season. Though the Astros will not have Carlos Beltran and Jeff Kent, two players who contributed to their postseason run, the return of Clemens will give Houston a formidable rotation of Clemens, 20-game winner Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettitte, Brandon Backe and a fifth starter to be determined. A chance for one more season with old friend Pettitte, expected to be healthy after an injury-shortened 2004, as well as a chance to give the hometown fans one more opportunity to see him play, were among factors Clemens had to consider before making his decision. He proved quite convincingly last season that there is still a lot left in the Rocket. Clemens won his final six decisions and eight of nine after the All-Star break. He finished the season with 4,317 career strikeouts, second-most behind Nolan Ryan and 156 ahead of Randy Johnson of the New York Yankees. Clemens leads all active pitchers in wins, starts, innings, strikeouts, complete games and shutouts. Clemens' 328 career victories has him tied with John Clarkson for 10th most all-time. If Clemens wins 15 games in 2005 he would pass Clarkson, Steve Carlton (329) and Tim Keefe (342) for eighth place. The .667 winning percentage by Clemens is the highest by any right-hander with 250 career decisions and the best by any 300-game winner other than Lefty Grove (.660). Clemens could also move up on several other career lists in 2005. His 4,493 career innings is 28th all-time and needs only eight innings to pass Eppa Rixey, Eddie Plank and Ferguson Jenkins for the 25th spot. His 46 shutouts rank 26th all time and within three of Don Drysdale, Early Wynn, Luis Tiant and Jenkins for 21st place." Reply With Quote
Go back and look at the thread from about a few weeks ago....i said he would be back thanks to my source and i was right wohooo..well actually he was right lol They needed something to draw a crowd and he is the best we can do.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1971759 Thursday, January 20, 2005 ESPN.com news services The Rocket has wavered on whether he will return to the Houston Astros in 2005, but the team is set to add some sizzle to his salary if he'll just say yes. More On Arbitration Figures exchanged Tuesday for the 40 players remaining in salary arbitration and their 2004 salaries, as obtained by the AP from player and management sources. Complete list Citing Major League Baseball sources, Houston television station KRIV-TV reported Thursday the Astros and Roger Clemens are "very close to agreement" on a one-year contract that will make him the game's highest-paid pitcher. Specific salary structure was not available, but the deal would have to top $17.5 million per season.
Wow, the highest paid pitcher in HISTORY! Amazing, I didn't think we would get him back for his demands. That is awesome!
Every big game on TV that I've seen Franco come through, it was either from pure luck or terrible umpire calls. I could be wrong, especially since I've done zero research, but I think he sucks.
DD, it's about time that you got his name right. It's Andy Pettitte. At the very least, the Astros will continue to have one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Clemens, Oswalt, Pettitte, Backe, and the winner of Redding, Munro, Hernandez, Duckworth, Buckholz, or Astacio (my choice) should be pretty good as long as good health reigns. At the worst, this keeps the Astros very competitive.
A lot depends on if Backe performs like he did during the playoffs. While good pitching will win over good hitting in the long run, we still need to replace over 200 rbis, which is no easy task.
Good for Roger. As a season ticket holder, I am very excited he`s coming back. After the discount he took last year, this years salary will just balance the table and if he gets $17.5 this year you can look at it as he made well less then what the other top pitchers made over the last year and this year
This is a good thing that we are going to get Roger back....but for the 1st month or more (until berkman comes back), there isn't one guy in the lineup that can be counted on for consistent run production...I hope there's a trade in the works...i really do.
