In what certainly qualifies as one of the least surprising news stories of the season, Roger Clemens has agreed to a one-year (er, four-month) deal with the Houston Astros.
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner ended his seven-month retirement by accepting a deal that will pay him approximately $14 million — the pro-rated value of a $21 million seasonal contract — to pitch for the Astros for the balance of the current season.
The decision came after months of soul searching by Clemens and weeks of waiting by the Astros, Yankees and Red Sox, who had tendered offers to the right-hander in recent weeks. The Rangers were also in the hunt until they were informed on Friday that they were no longer in the running for Clemens.
Now that Brett Favre has decided to come back, Ricky Williams’ latest suspension has been upheld, and Clemens’ latest unretirement is official, we can all, thankfully, get on with our lives.
What does this mean for the Astros? Well, at 27-26, they’re only 6.5 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central, and there’s still plenty of baseball to be played. Clemens, who went 13-8 last year despite an MLB-best 1.87 ERA, rejoins a rotation that includes former 20-game winners Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte, and Astros fans are no doubt hoping Clemens’ return will take some pressure off of Pettitte, who is currently struggling with a 5.65 ERA in 12 starts. Clemens will reportedly make a few minor-league appearances before taking the mound for Houston on June 22 against the Twins.
Gee, what story is going to lead off SportsCenter on June 23?
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After the Astros came back to win the Wild Card and NL pennant in 2005, I won’t simply rule them out of the hunt this year. However, it will be more of up-hill climb. The Cardinals have come back to the pack, but so many other teams are moving forward. The entire NL West is better, the Brewers & Reds won’t be the cupcakes they were last year, and (don’t slam me quite yet) the Cubs will make a run in the second half and give their fans false hope. The Astros need to figure out what’s wrong with Pettitte and Lidge to seriously contend. If they have them straightened out, then obviously they have a serious shot to go back to the World Series: 3 front line starters and a dominant closer. They also will need another bat around the trade deadline, because you know the other teams in the NL will make moves.
Just on a personal level as to Clemens’ comeback, I worry that the only direction he can go is down. I just can’t see him matching his stats of last year and I’d hate to see him stay around too long. The greats should go gracefully but it appears more and more as if Roger is having a hard time saying goodbye. Hopefully I’m wrong. I have always loved the way he plays this game: reckless abandon, political correctness be damned..coming in tight…being mean….but I’d hate to see him end up like Steve Carlton did or Willie Mays. A summer or two too long.
TC