Clemens Asks for $22 Million

Roger Clemens filed for a record $22 million in salary arbitration Tuesday, and the Houston Astros offered the seven-time Cy Young Award winner $13.5 million.

Clemens, who won the Cy Young Award last season and helped lead the Astros within one win of their first World Series appearance, still has not decided whether to pitch this season or retire.

Until now, the highest figure submitted for arbitration was $18.5 million in 2001 by New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, who agreed to a $189-million, 10-year deal.

The highest salary earned by a pitcher in a season was $17.5 million, last year by Boston’s Pedro Martinez.

“We looked at what some of the comparables were -- Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson -- and we tried to use those star-quality players to come up with a number,” Astro General Manager Tim Purpura said.

Astro outfielder Lance Berkman, who is eligible for free agency after next season, asked for $11 million and the team offered $10 million. Pitcher Roy Oswalt asked for a raise from $3.425 million to $7.8 million and was offered $6 million.

Hearings will be held next month for players who don’t agree to settlements.

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Third baseman Sean Burroughs agreed to a $1.675-million, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, nearly five times what he earned last year.

Burroughs, who avoided salary arbitration, can earn another $200,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances. He earned $340,000 last year, when he hit a career-high .298 while batting leadoff, with 47 runs batted in and 76 runs, but only two home runs.

“I think he’s gotten better and better each year defensively,” General Manager Kevin Towers said.

Newcomer Dave Roberts will bat leadoff, allowing Manager Bruce Bochy to drop Burroughs in the order, probably to the eighth spot.

“I think he’ll be much more comfortable hitting in the eight hole,” Towers said. “There will be less pressure hitting before the pitcher. He’s always been close to a .300 hitter. One thing we’d like to see him do is drive the ball, not so much homers as extra-base hits and hitting the ball in the gap. He’s going to hit close to .300. I think he’s going to be one of the better eight-hole hitters in the major leagues.”

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The Colorado Rockies locked up two key parts of their rotation, agreeing to contracts with right-hander Jason Jennings and left-hander Joe Kennedy.

Jennings got a $7-million, two-year deal that includes a club option for 2007, and Kennedy accepted a $2.2-million, one-year contract.

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American League Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana asked the Minnesota Twins for a raise to $6.8 million in salary arbitration and was offered $5 million.

Santana had a 20-6 record with a league-leading 2.61 earned-run average and 265 strikeouts, helping the Twins win their third consecutive AL Central title.

After the All-Star break, Santana was 13-0 with a 1.21 ERA in 15 starts.

The left-hander lost his arbitration case last year and made $1.6 million instead of his $2.45-million request.

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Florida right-hander Josh Beckett agreed to a $2.4-million, one-year contract.... St. Louis and left-hander Rick Ankiel avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $400,000, one-year contract.... Former All-Star shortstop Jimmy Rollins and Philadelphia agreed to a $3.85-million, one-year contract, and versatile infielder Placido Polanco also avoided arbitration with a $4.6-million contract for 2005. Former All-Star right-hander Vicente Padilla reached a $3.2-million, one-year deal with the Phillies.... Outfielder-first baseman Craig Wilson and right-hander Josh Fogg bypassed arbitration, agreeing to one-year contracts with Pittsburgh.... The Chicago Cubs agreed to a $12-million, three-year contract with catcher Michael Barrett and one-year deals with center fielder Corey Patterson and reliever Kyle Farnsworth.... Closer Octavio Dotel and outfielder Bobby Kielty agreed to one-year contracts with Oakland, avoiding salary arbitration.... Seattle agreed to a $4.2-million, two-year contract with pitcher Ron Villone, who became a free agent after the season and accepted the Mariners’ arbitration offer Dec. 19.... Boston agreed to one-year contracts with second baseman Mark Bellhorn and right-hander Bronson Arroyo.