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View Full Version : Clemens on trading block



AggieJohn
05-04-2005, 04:27 PM
Roger Clemens hasn't phoned his moving company yet. But it sure is funny how the open speculation is already beginning on where Clemens will wind up in July:

Yankees? Red Sox? Braves?
Uh, not so fast, folks.

There happens to be a little clause in Clemens' contract that adds $3 million to his $18-million salary if he gets traded. So just that clause alone, says Houston GM Tim Purpura, makes it "highly unlikely that's going to happen."

One thing that clause means is that Clemens is totally unaffordable for Atlanta. And even the Red Sox would be unlikely to want to add a guy at the deadline who had another $9 to $12 million coming.

So that would leave – guess who? – the Yankees. But even they would have to think long and hard about whether the Rocket is worth the price.

Obviously, they're the one team out there that has the cash in Boss Steinbrenner's checking account to afford him. But how much would it really be worth to them to add one pitcher – even one as dominating as this man?

Say the Yankees traded for Clemens in early July – about halfway through the season. He would have $9 million left in salary, plus that $3-million incentive clause – plus another $5 million or so in luxury tax. That's $17 million for a three-month rental.

True, the Astros could pay some of that money. But why would they?

Considering the potential public-relations nightmare they would be risking in trading Houston's No. 1 icon, they would need to be blown away to consider moving Clemens and paying him to pitch somewhere else. But the Yankees don't have enough attractive young players to blow anyone away.

Oh, it's true the Rocket could engineer this whole scenario if he pushed hard enough. But you should also remember that Clemens hasn't forgotten that he had to cajole the Yankees just a little too hard to bring him back for the 2003 season.

So if the Yankees suddenly find themselves desperate for one final reunion, he would no doubt enjoy watching the Yankees squirm and drop that $3-million relocation fee in his wallet.

We'll no doubt start hearing the rumors in June if the Astros are still scoring 1.29 runs per game for Clemens. But if the Rocket is going to finish the year as a hired gun, just bear one thing in mind:

He'll be the most expensive hired gun in history