NEW YORK -- Roger Clemens, fresh off his record seventh Cy Young Award, became a free agent Thursday on the final day to file, along with former Cy Young winner Pat Hentgen. The 42-year-old Clemens, who went 18-4 for the Houston Astros, won the NL Cy Young Award on Tuesday and hasn't said whether he intends to pitch again next season. Hentgen, winner of the 1996 AL Cy Young Award, went 2-9 with a 6.95 ERA for Toronto and retired in late July. Hentgen, who turns 36 Saturday, came off the voluntarily retired list earlier this week. By becoming a free agent he can sign with any team if he decides he wants to play again. Pittsburgh closer Jose Mesa, who could have become a free agent, instead agreed Thursday to a $2.5 million, one-year contract with the Pirates. A total of 207 players filed for free agency, three fewer than last year. Free agents can start negotiating money with all teams starting Friday. Center fielder Carlos Beltran, third baseman Adrian Beltre, first baseman Carlos Delgado, catcher Jason Varitek, shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, and pitchers Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Troy Percival, Carl Pavano, Eric Milton, Russ Ortiz and Kevin Millwood are among those available. ------------------ Hopefully not, but if it is, it's the end to a legend who helped us come close to the World Series. Should we go after Adrian Beltre, Nomar, Derek Lowe, Pavano, Milton, or Ortiz?
Ok, maybe I don't get it, but what does this mean...doesn't this mean he can negotiate with anyone...but I know he'll probably only pitch for the Astros if he does it, but still...
This is helpful to Houston in so much if they make an offer to Clemens and he rejects it in order to sign with another team, the Astros will get a draft choice as compensation. Last year the Yankees did not make Clemens a qualifying offer thinking that he retired. Because of that, there was no draft choice compensation for the Astros signing him.
I'm guessing the Astros won't offer arbitration. Because he really has no chance of LEAVING Houston, regardless of whether he'll come back. That said, I wonder how much the Rocket can get in arbitration with the Astros. Probably $12 mil? Maybe more? I know Maddux screwed the Braves with a huge arbitration figure two year back, and he didn't even have a Cy Young year.
