Astros Open To Signing 50-Year-Old Roger Clemens To Major League Contract
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - The Houston Astros are open to signing seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, CBSSports.com reported.
Clemens, 50, hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2007, but he signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League on Monday. He is scheduled to make his debut on Saturday against the Bridgeport Bluefish.
Astros owner Jim Crane, whose team boasts a Major League-worst 39-86 record, seems intrigued about luring "The Rocket" to Minute Maid Park.
"I think the fans might like it," Crane told FOX 26 in Houston. "It might be fun and (it will) certainly get a few people in the ballpark. I don't see anything negative about that, but the Astros wouldn't want to do it for the money, the extra gate or anything like that."
Clemens' agent, Randy Hendricks, said that the pitcher's "fastball was clocked at 87 MPH." He added that Clemens and Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti have been talking about this "for months."
The 11-time All-Star pitched for the Yankees from 1999-2003, winning the Cy Young Award in both 2001 and 2003. His best season in pinstripes came in '01, when the 1986 AL MVP went 20-3 with a 3.51 ERA and 213 strikeouts. He then returned to the Bronx for a short stint in 2007.
The two-time World Series champion pitched for the Astros from 2004-2006, winning the Cy Young Award in 2004.
Clemens was acquitted in June of charges that he lied to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs. He was found not guilty by a jury in Washington.
Would "The Rocket" and his 87 MPH fastball still have the ability to get Major League hitters out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below...
(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
