Rocket Decides He’s the Re-Firing Type

Roger Clemens, dragging his fastball well into his retirement years, on Friday agreed to return to the Houston Astros for $18 million, the most ever paid to a pitcher.

Two months after accepting his record seventh Cy Young Award, even then suggesting he might have thrown his final pitch, Clemens stalked back into the game he keeps meaning to leave.

“Here we go again,” he told Associated Press.

This week, Clemens requested an arbitration-record $22 million, the Astros offered $13.5 million, and they settled just above the midpoint. Clemens overtook Pedro Martinez, whose $17.5-million salary last season with the Boston Red Sox was the previous high. Also, $18 million is the largest one-year contract.

Computing by the average annual values of their contracts, Clemens will earn at least as much as all but three players -- Alex Rodriguez ($25.2 million), Manny Ramirez ($20 million) and Derek Jeter ($18.9 million). Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds also will make $18 million.

The agreement concluded yet another bout of off-season anguish for Clemens, who retired after the 2003 season before being lured by his hometown Astros and the chance to pitch alongside friend Andy Pettitte. He was 18-4 with a 2.98 ERA and 218 strikeouts, started the All-Star game in Houston and helped push the Astros to their first postseason series victory.

That done, and looking back on 328 career victories (tied for 10th all-time), 4,317 career strikeouts (second to Nolan Ryan) and two World Series titles, Clemens, who will be 43 in August, again was in the mood for retirement.

On the occasion of his most recent Cy Young Award, Clemens said he wished to spend more time with his family -- he has four sons -- and care for his ailing mother, Bess.

“Even though she’s a strong lady,” he said, “I worry about her health.”

Clemens will be Hall of Fame-eligible five years after he retires for good, and he’d already considered his audience in Cooperstown. His father has passed away, and Clemens said, “I don’t want to speak to two empty chairs.”

Instead, he’ll pitch to 40,000 occupied chairs.

“This came on so fast,” Clemens told MLB.com. “Within the last week, they said the talks had gone so far that I better get ready to make a decision because the folks over here that I work for, and put my heart on the line for, are getting real close to making an offer.”

En route to an Astro home attendance record of more than 3 million, Clemens sold out eight of his starts. Astro General Manager Tim Purpura said Clemens’ impact on the city, and on baseball in the city, was greater than the numbers -- 3 million or 18 million -- suggested.

“It was a real amazing time in this city,” he said, “with Roger doing what he did. The thing that is truly incredible, he touched so many people with his performance, but more so with his outreach. I’ve never seen an athlete take on as much in a community as Roger did.”

The Astros heightened the need for Clemens in an off-season in which they lost Carlos Beltran, Jeff Kent and Wade Miller to free agency and Lance Berkman, for the early season, to injury.

In late January, after having committed themselves to Beltran while other free-agent outfielders were being courted and signed, the Astros are short an outfielder and a second baseman, and already are near last year’s $85-million payroll.

“A lot of people have criticized us for the way we went about our business in the winter,” said Purpura, who succeeded Gerry Hunsicker in November. “People can be critical, but there were two important pieces we had to try to go after.”

Beltran signed with the New York Mets when, in the final moments of negotiations, the Astros refused to grant him a full no-trade clause. That left Clemens carrying the last bit of momentum from last season, when the Astros came within a victory of the World Series.

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Salary uncapped

Roger Clemens brings to nine the number of players whose contracts have average annual values of $17 million or more:

*--* Player, Club Years Avg. Salary in Millions Alex Rodriguez, NYY 2001-10 $25.2 Manny Ramirez, Bos 2001-08 $20.0 Derek Jeter, NYY 2001-10 $18.9 Sammy Sosa, Cubs 2002-05 $18.0 Barry Bonds, SF 2002-06 $18.0 Roger Clemens, Hou 2005 $18.0 Jason Giambi, NYY 2002-08 $17.1 Jeff Bagwell, Hou 2002-06 $17.0 Carlos Beltran, NYM 2005-11 $17.0

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NOTE: Figures were obtained by Associated Press from player and management sources and include all guaranteed income but not income from potential incentive bonuses. There is no distinction for money deferred without interest.

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Climbing the Charts

Roger Clemens, ranked second on the all-time strikeout list, is a long way from catching leader Nolan Ryan, who holds a 1,397-strikeout advantage. But with another Cy Young Award-caliber season, Clemens can make deeper inroads on the all-time victory chart. He’ll enter the 2005 season tied for 10th with 328 victories. The pitchers within his range:

10. JOHN CLARKSON 328

With his first victory, Clemens will break a tie with this 19th century standout. Clarkson won 33 or more games six times during a career spent primarily with Chicago, Boston and Cleveland of the National League from 1882 to 1894. He completed 485 of 518 career starts, in an era in which closers were an unknown concept, and had a career year with Chicago in 1885, going 53-16, striking out 308 batters in 623 innings, with an earned-run average of 1.85.

9. STEVE CARLTON 329

On the occasion of his second victory of 2005, Clemens will become the leading winner in the last 40 years. Carlton pitched for six teams in 24 seasons, but collected 241 of his victories -- and four Cy Young Awards -- with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1972 to ’86. After eclipsing Carlton, Clemens will trail only Warren Spahn (363) for most victories during the last 75 years.

8. TIM KEEFE 342

With a 15-win season, Clemens can count on passing another 19th century star. Keefe pitched only 14 seasons, but won 32 or more games for New York in six consecutive seasons, from 1883 to ‘88, with a best of 42 in 1886. After catching Keefe, Clemens will be another 19 victories away from yet another 19th century pitcher, Kid Nichols, in seventh place.