HOUSTON -- The Astros have asked Roger Clemens' agent to meet this week and discuss a new contract that would bring the seven-time Cy Young winner back for a third season in Houston.
| Advertisement |
|||
| |||
The Astros did not offer Clemens salary arbitration in December, leaving the 43-year-old free agent open to talk with other teams. Boston, the New York Yankees and Texas are also interested in signing Clemens this season. May 1 was the first day the Astros were eligible to re-sign him.
Clemens also is considering retirement.
Astros general manager Tim Purpura said he e-mailed Randy Hendricks, Clemens' agent, on Monday to set up a meeting. Purpura said late Monday afternoon that Hendricks was traveling and did not send a response.
Hendricks did not return a phone message from The Associated Press.
Purpura said the Astros are ready to make Clemens an enticing offer.
|
|
| Will Roger Clemens pitch for the Astros this season? Stay tuned. (Getty Images) |
Clemens earned just over $18 million last season and Purpura hinted the Astros are prepared to offer him more this season, even if he didn't join the team until June or July.
"It is very difficult for a pitcher, or for any player, who accomplished what he did to look at any kind of a pay cut," Purpura said. "That just doesn't happen."
Clemens won the 2004 NL Cy Young Award and led the majors with a career-best 1.87 ERA last season. Clemens is tied for eighth on the wins list with 341 and second in strikeouts with 4,502.
Heading into Monday's game in Milwaukee, the Astros were 16-8, among the best starts in franchise history. The starting rotation has won 12 games and Purpura thinks that helps the Astros' chances of luring Clemens.
"What he has that most of our starters don't have is experience," Purpura said. "That's something, as we head into the stretch, we're going to need. The experience factor is big for us."
The Astros also would seem to have an edge in incentives no other team can offer.
Kurtis 
