Will Roger Clemens come out of retirement?

Is it just off-season deal talk? Is there any basis for the
circulating rumors?

The Houston Astros can see the writing on the wall. This past week
they made their biggest acquisition of the year and signed left-
hander, Andy Pettite, to a three year, $31.5 million dollar deal. The
move puts them in good position to challenge their divisional rival,
the Chicago Cubs, who currently boast the strongest starting rotation
in the NL Central and, arguably, the entire league.

With that deal secured, many MLB insiders have begun to circulate
rumors that Roger Clemens may not be far behind. Clemens, although
recently retired, has been spotted lately working out with Pettite,
and has expressed interest, in the past, of playing in Houston.

"I don't know what he is thinking, but he has been working out with
me all week, and he's in shape", Pettite told Dan Patrick on ESPN
Radio. "He could pitch right now. I can tell you this…if he expressed
to me at all that he wanted to play, I would be all over him."

There has been so much interest from the Houston area that KKRW-
FM "the Dean and Rog show" actually tried to entice Clemens, a
Houston resident, to sign a deal by offering a Free Hummer. Clemens
received a Hummer a few months back as his going away present from
the Yankees. The Hummer being offered by KKRW was in response to
Clemens concern about losing the Hummer given to him by the Yankees
if he came out of retirement.

"The Rocket would be a great fit for the Astros this season," says
BetCBS.com (http://www.gobetcbs.com/hit.cfm?
PromoID=AF1625&MediaTypeID=11) CEO, Dave Johnson. "Clemens and
Pettitte together on such an offensively strong team could give the
Astros that extra edge that they need in the playoffs. The Astros
need a few players who have been there, and done that. Personally, I
could not think of a better duo that could bring this type of needed
experience to the Astros."

BetCBS.com (http://www.gobetcbs.com/hit.cfm?
PromoID=AF1625&MediaTypeID=11) oddsmakers have posted the following
odds on whether or not Clemens will come out of retirement and pitch
for the Astros this season:

Yes, Clemens will be on a 2004 MLB opening day roster +200
No, Clemens will stay in retirement -400

http://www.gobetcbs.com/hit.cfm?PromoID=AF1625&MediaTypeID=11