By Jayson Stark
ESPN.com

NEW ORLEANS -- It isn't just idle offseason talk. It isn't just one high-profile baseball player doing his best to talk a buddy into trying on the same uniform.

Nope. As easy as it might have seemed to dismiss that chatter about Roger Clemens joining his pal, Andy Pettitte, next season in Houston as just another hey-wouldn't-that-be-something conversation for your favorite talk-show host, indications are growing that this is a real possibility.


Roger Clemens was 17-9 with a 3.91 ERA for the Yankees last season.

Three days before Pettitte signed with the Astros, we began hearing these Clemens-to-Houston rumblings from an NL executive who was one of the first to tell us that Pettitte looked headed to the Astros.

Then, on the first day of the winter meetings on Friday, we heard the same message from an official of another team, an official who has ties to Houston -- and one who had predicted Pettitte would be an Astro nearly two weeks before it happened.

When the subject of Clemens to Houston came up, the official said, almost matter-of-factly: "Oh, I think that's happening. These two guys are working out together, right? Why are they working out together if the one guy is retired?"

Hmmm, good point. But what about Clemens' emotional, flashbulb-popping "final" World Series pitch? If that wasn't the end, it sure fooled a whole lot of people, from New York to the Rio Grande.

"I never thought that was his final pitch," the official said. "He'll be back. And I think he'll be back in Houston."

We've been hearing this talk as far back as the World Series. Even then, friends were suggesting all kinds of scenarios that could interest Clemens in firing up the engine to pitch another year. And a Pettitte-Clemens reunion back home in Texas was one of them.

But now, baseball people who are hooked into Astros owner Drayton McLane say McLane is openly discussing finding a way to add Clemens to his growing collection of local heroes.

One of those people says McLane has already let Clemens know that even if he doesn't come back to pitch, he is always welcome at Minute Maid Park -- to do anything from shagging flies to tossing batting practice to hanging out in a suite with his kids, eating ribs. But of course, if Clemens does decide to pitch, McLane has made it clear the crack in that door is as wide as the whole state of Texas.

Clemens would be an excellent 3rd or 4th pitcher for Houston. Come on Roger, the Stros are going to the World Series! :D

if he comes back, NL central will be very interesting, especially if the cubs can get pudge

Just a gut feeling, I don't think he's coming back.

I just want to see him bat against the Mets! :chair:

As an Astros fan, i hope he comes back. But if I were him, I would stay retired. But think about it, as Houston's fourth pitcher, he would be pitching against other fourth pitchers. He could still win 15-18 games.

cbfranchise3 Wrote:As an Astros fan, i hope he comes back. But if I were him, I would stay retired. But think about it, as Houston's fourth pitcher, he would be pitching against other fourth pitchers. He could still win 15-18 games.

Houston would be scay-ree if he came back. Oswalt, Miller, Pettitte and Clemens. Now there's a rotation.

cbfranchise3 Wrote:As an Astros fan, i hope he comes back.  But if I were him, I would stay retired.  But think about it, as Houston's fourth pitcher, he would be pitching against other fourth pitchers.  He could still win 15-18 games.

I think you just pitch against who is due in the rotation for the other team, sometimes #4 will go against the other teams #4 but sometimes he might be facing their ace. It'd be nice to see my 'stros get him for one year. Would be kind of like Nolan pitching for Texas his last couple of years.

tysramm1 Wrote:if he comes back, NL central will be very interesting, especially if the cubs can get pudge

Pudge will sign with the O's

SouthLink02 Wrote:

tysramm1 Wrote:if he comes back, NL central will be very interesting, especially if the cubs can get pudge

Pudge will sign with the O's

how about javy then?