Apparently Newsday was so good, they scooped even Clemens’ agent and the team he signed with:
HOUSTON — Roger Clemens is coming out of retirement for the third time, agreeing to a $22 million contract to pitch for the Houston Astros for the rest of 2006.
The 43-year-old Clemens, who will be entering his 23rd major league season, is agreeing first to a minor league contract that pays $322,000 over the five-month minor league season, and his first start is likely to be June 6 at Lexington, Ky., the Class A team where his oldest son, Koby, plays.
If all goes well, his second minor-league start would be June 11 at Double-A Corpus Christi, Texas, followed by a start June 16 at Triple-A Round Rock, Texas.
Clemens announced his return Wednesday at a news conference.
I find it hard to believe that the Hendrivks brothers and the Astros’ GM had no idea a deal was about to be done when they issued those ridiculous denials, both of which were along the lines of: "I’ve never heard anything like that, and don’t you think I would know?" I have a word for people who lie to journalists, but it’s not very nice.
I guess I’ll start this one; at least the Rocket is not going to Beantown. That would have ruined my day.
He very likely would have had Drayton not ponied up serious cash. But once the Astros redeemed themselves financially, I knew it was over.
He’s still not going to get any run support.