http://www.newsday.com/sports/print...51may22,0,2973367.column?coll=ny-sports-print Roger Clemens will very likely wind up back with the Yankees this summer for two reasons, according to a person familiar with the Astros' situation: 1) Clemens feels bad about the way his return to baseball upset Yankees fans, and 2) Drayton McLane would "oblige" Clemens, a personal favorite. Newsday reported Feb. 6 that McLane and Clemens have a side agreement to trade Clemens to the Yankees - but only the Yankees - if Houston falls out of the race, and McLane's murky denials haven't convinced those in the know that he won't do exactly that. McLane is one of those too-involved owners. You know the type. "He's the Steinbrenner of the South," one NL exec said, "but with one-tenth Steinbrenner's baseball knowledge." Incidentally, the Astros - and everyone besides St. Louis - are within weeks of falling out of it in the NL Central. As one Cardinals official put it, "I don't see how we don't win this thing."
This is just the same dude rehashing his own stupid article. http://bbs2.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?threadid=96415
yep, it was in the chronicle this morning. wouldnt be suprised if it happened either. too bad the yankees have nothing but crap to give us.......
I don't really think we owe Clemens any favors. Maybe last year, when he was pitching for a lot smaller check. But even then, it wasn't all about Clemens doing us a favor. Sure he took a hometown discount, but at the same time he wanted to either retire or pitch at home. Pitching for cheaper looked like the only way he was going to be able to still pitch. This year, we are paying him one of the biggest salaries in all of baseball. It's hard for me to think that Drayton owes him any favors. Especially if we cant' get anything good for him.
If we could trade him anywhere we want and get top prospects I might think differently. But, I don't want to trade him to the yankees for scrubs or anything. It's not like Roger was on a long term deal and didn't know what he was getting himself into. By the time he signed that contract he knew exactly the team he was signing with. Seeing Roger make his farewells and retire an Astro may be the only thing we have to look forward to come September. Wasn't the NY media claiming last year he'd be a Yankee at end of July?
Wouldn't it be foolish for the Astros not to trade him? They are going nowhere. He can't pull up their ticket numbers that much. If he wants another shot at a ring, I say give it to him. He's not helping us out of the doldrums and the Astros sure as hell aren't doing anything for him-- except paying him a princely sum. Let the Yanks take that over, thank you.
Drayton better get something for Clemens. I don't want to see Clemens leave with the Yankees only picking up his salary so Drayton can save a buck.
http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/magazine/magBlog?id=1961791 Rocket liftoff a complicated endeavor The Astros hit rock-bottom Saturday, allowing eight homers to the Rangers in a wipeout, and John P. Lopez wonders what Houston's exit strategy will be from this mess of a season. And will it involve Roger Clemens? This is the only scenario in which I can see Clemens getting dealt to the Yankees this season: The Rocket goes to Houston owner Drayton McLane and asks for the deal. No waffling, no hinting. A simple and direct request. And, at the same time, Clemens tells McLane that he wants to come back to pitch for the Astros in 2006, and continue to pursue Warren Spahn's post-1930 record of 363 career victories. This way, McLane has a public-relations out: Yes, we agreed to trade Roger, but guess what, he's going to be back in 2006; we're rebuilding and he'll lead the team next year, better than ever. McLane and Houston general manager Tim Purpura would then have to arrange a deal with the Yankees, whereby New York would have to agree to not offer Clemens arbitration in the off-season -- and therefore would forfeit the right to a top draft pick. That would undoubtedly further mitigate the Astros' asking price. The Yankees would have to agree to swap at least two of their best prospects -- infielder Eric Duncan, probably, and perhaps a high-ceiling guy in Class A (Duncan is in Class AA and having a mediocre season, so far). Because the Yankees would have to renounce the arbitration rights to make this whole thing work, Houston could not expect the Yankees to give up a high-volume pod of prospects -- especially when New York also is going to owe Clemens an extra $3 million, beyond his salary, because of a clause in his contract. But unless it all happens in this manner, it's not going to happen. McLane is not going to swap Clemens without being asked by the pitcher, because to make a trade would be to essentially wave a white flag in front of potential ticket-buyers. Let's face it: Clemens might be the only real reason to see an Astros game in August and September. And McLane almost certainly wouldn't swap Clemens unless he had some kind of understanding about what the pitcher's relationship would be with his team for 2006 and beyond. With those circumstances factored in, the bet here is that a Clemens deal won't get done with the Yankees, or any other team. Everybody on the Yankees and Astros keeps saying there hasn't been any talk about it, and how it'll never happen. But what was it that Clemens said about his supposed retirement in 2003? Ninety-nine percent sure? There's always that one percent for which there needs to be accounting.
If Clemens isn't retiring this season...FOR GOOD...I can't imagine him doing this. And with the way he's performing, he may very well not hang it up after this season. Again...the Yanks don't have ANYTHING I'd be overly interested in. If we could get other teams involved, that would be great. But if Roger will only accept a trade to the Yanks...then I don't see it happening.
I don't see it happening because I really think he'll be back with us next year. BTW, does anyone know where I can find a list of potential free agents after this year?
So, what impact does the "personal services" contract that Rocket already signed with the Astros have on all this trade speculation?
2005-2006 Potential Free Agents -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Based only on players currently under a contract through the 2005 season. x-club option for 2006; m-mutual option for 2006; y-player option for 2006. AMERICAN LEAGUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANAHEIM (3): Paul Byrd, rhp; Bengie Molina, c; Tim Salmon, of. BALTIMORE (5): Chris Gomez, ss; m-Steve Reed, rhp; B.J. Ryan, lhp; x-Sammy Sosa, of; B.J. Surhoff, of. BOSTON (9): Johnny Damon, of; Alan Embree, lhp; m-John Halama, lhp; Matt Mantei, rhp; Kevin Millar, 1b; Bill Mueller, 3b; Jay Payton, of; Mike Timlin, rhp; Tim Wakefield, rhp. CHICAGO (4): Carl Everett, of; Paul Konerko, 1b; x-Cliff Politte, rhp; Frank Thomas, dh. CLEVELAND (4): x-Aaron Boone, 3b; Jose Hernandez, 2b; Kevin Millwood, rhp; Bob Wickman, rhp. DETROIT (9): Kyle Farnsworth, rhp; Bobby Higginson, of; Jason Johnson, rhp; Ramon Martinez, 2b; Ugueth Urbina, rhp; Fernando Vina, 2b; x-Jamie Walker, rhp; Rondell White, of; Dmitri Young, 1b. KANSAS CITY (6): Brian Anderson, lhp; Tony Graffanino, ss; Jose Lima, rhp; Eli Marrero, of; Matt Stairs, of; x-Scott Sullivan, rhp. MINNESOTA (1): Joe Mays, rhp. NEW YORK (11): Kevin Brown, rhp; John Flaherty, c; Tom Gordon, rhp; x-Steve Karsay, rhp; x-Tino Martinez, 1b; Paul Quantrill, rhp; Felix Rodriguez, rhp; Rey Sanchez, 2b; Ruben Sierra, of; Mike Stanton, lhp; Bernie Williams, of. OAKLAND (5): Octavio Dotel, rhp; Erubiel Durazo, 1b; x-Scott Hatteberg, 1b; x-Mark Kotsay, of; Ricardo Rincon, lhp. SEATTLE (6): Bret Boone, 2b; Shigetoshi Hasegawa, rhp; Jamie Moyer, lhp; x-Pokey Reese, 2b; Dan Wilson, c; Randy Winn, of. TAMPA BAY (3): Alex Gonzalez, ss; Travis Lee, 1b; Eduardo Perez, 1b. TEXAS (5): Sandy Alomar Jr, c; Pedro Astacio, rhp; Doug Brocail, rhp; Richard Hidalgo, of; Kenny Rogers, lhp. TORONTO (3): Billy Koch, rhp; Kerry Ligtenberg, rhp; x-Gregg Zaun, c. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NATIONAL LEAGUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ARIZONA (4): Tony Clark, 1b; Royce Clayton, ss; Jose Cruz Jr, of; Shawn Estes, lhp. ATLANTA (8): Julio Franco, 1b; Rafael Furcal, ss; Brian Jordan, of; Tom Martin, lhp; Raul Mondesi, of; Eddie Perez, c; x-John Thomson, rhp; Gabe White, lhp. CHICAGO (9): m-Jeromy Burnitz, of; Ryan Dempster, rhp; Nomar Garciaparra, ss; x-Latroy Hawkins, rhp; Todd Hollandsworth, of; Neifi Perez, ss; Mike Remlinger, lhp; y-Glendon Rusch, lhp; x-Todd Walker, 2b. CINCINNATI (5): m-Danny Graves, rhp; Jason LaRue, c; Ramon Ortiz, rhp; Joe Randa, 3b; x-David Weathers, rhp. COLORADO (3): Charles Johnson, c; Desi Relaford, 2b; Preston Wilson, of. FLORIDA (9): x-Antonio Alfonseca, rhp; A.J. Burnett, rhp; Jeff Conine, of; Damion Easley, 2b; Todd Jones, rhp; Al Leiter, lhp; Jim Mecir, rhp; Guillermo Mota, rhp; Ismael Valdez, rhp. HOUSTON (6): Brad Ausmus, c; Craig Biggio, of; Roger Clemens, rhp; John Franco, lhp; Orlando Palmeiro, of; Jose Vizcaino, ss. LOS ANGELES (5): Paul Bako, c; m-Elmer Dessens, rhp; Darren Dreifort, rhp; Jose Valentin, 3b; Jeff Weaver, rhp. MILWAUKEE (3): Ricky Bottalico, rhp; Wes Helms, 1b; x-Carlos Lee, of. NEW YORK (9): Miguel Cairo, 2b; Mike DeJean, rhp; x-Tom Glavine, lhp; x-Felix Heredia, lhp; x-Braden Looper, rhp; Joe McEwing, of; x-Doug Mientkiewicz, 1b; Mike Piazza, c; x-Steve Trachsel, rhp. PHILADELPHIA (9): Terry Adams, rhp; x-Mike Lieberthal, c; Kenny Lofton, of; Tomas Perez, ss; Vicente Padilla, rhp; Placido Polanco, ss; Todd Pratt, c; Billy Wagner, lhp; Tim Worrell, rhp. PITTSBURGH (3): x-Jose Mesa, rhp; m-Mark Redman, lhp; Benito Santiago, c. ST. LOUIS (13): Chris Carpenter, rhp; Roger Cedeno, of; Einar Diaz, c; Cal Eldred, rhp; Mark Grudzielanek, 2b; John Mabry, of; Matt Morris, rhp; x-Mark Mulder, lhp; Al Reyes, rhp; Reggie Sanders, of; x-Jeff Suppan, rhp; Julian Tavarez, rhp; Larry Walker, of. SAN DIEGO (14): Geoff Blum, 3b; x-Jeff Cirillo, 3b; Brian Giles, of; Chris Hammond, lhp; Ramon Hernandez, c; Trevor Hoffman, rhp; Terrence Long, of; x-Mark Loretta, 3b; Dennys Reyes, lhp; Dave Roberts, of; Rudy Seanez, rhp; Mark Sweeney, of; x-Woody Williams, rhp; x-Eric Young, of. SAN FRANCISCO (12): y-Moises Alou, of; x-Jason Christiansen, lhp; Deivi Cruz, ss; y-Ray Durham, 2b; Scott Eyre, lhp; Marquis Grissom, of; Matt Herges, rhp; Kirk Rueter, lhp; x-Jason Schmidt, rhp; J.T. Snow, of; Brett Tomko, rhp; Michael Tucker, of. WASHINGTON (4): Wil Cordero, of; x-Jose Guillen, of; Esteban Loaiza, rhp; Antonio Osuna, rhp.
I don't see why the Astros have to demand a lot back for Roger. He is over 40. If they trade him, I would rather they just spend the money on a big free agent next season. It would be nice to get some prospects but I think it is unreasonable.
Bigger names that intrigue me: Paul Konerko Randy Winn Johnny Damon Todd Hollandsworth Preston Wilson A.J. Burnett Guillermo Mota Reggie Sanders Brian Giles
Maybe because he's still one of the best pitchers in the game and still a big draw for us. You don't simply give away a player of his caliber regardless of age.
exactly..he's on his way, arguably, to another Cy Young award. at least he's a contender for it. you don't just hand over a player like that without getting some value for it.
