Strauss: Are Cards in Rocket's orbit?

haltz · Post by **haltz** » February 28 07, 1:56 am

Post-Dispatch wrote:02/28/2007

JUPITER, Fla. — Described more as fanciful thinking than a realistic hope, the Cardinals recently told agents representing seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens that they are interested should the 44-year-old expand his list of potential 2007 landing spots beyond Houston, New York and Boston.

General manager Walt Jocketty, assistant general manager John Mozeliak and vice president of player personnel Jerry Walker met at length Monday morning at a nearby coffee shop with one of Clemens' lead agents, Alan Hendricks, and two associates. Much of their two-hour meeting focused on Hendricks clients Braden Looper and Kip Wells, but Clemens was discussed.

"I guess you would always have interest in a guy like that," Jocketty said. "He's someone we've expressed interest in before. I'm not sure it would be mutual, though. There are so many factors involved it would be pretty tough to do any deal with them. You never know."

One club official played down the Cardinals' chances of landing Clemens to "1 million to 1."

Asked his opinion, pitching coach Dave Duncan said he had not been approached regarding Clemens and estimated the odds of pulling such a coup as "more like 2 million to 1."

In December, the Cardinals made an eleventh-hour push for free-agent lefthander Andy Pettitte, another Hendricks client, shortly before Pettitte signed a one-year contract to return to the New York Yankees.

The Cardinals also bid for Clemens before he signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros in 2004.

Jocketty, who has also put out trade feelers for starting pitching, acknowledged that he is intrigued by Clemens' availability while trying to suppress any irrational expectations.

A high-ranking club official unaware of Monday's meeting conceded the club "would have to be interested" if Clemens became available for bid.

The Cardinals retain significant financial flexibility after failed attempts to sign free agents Pettitte, Randy Wolf, Jason Schmidt, Miguel Batista and Jeff Weaver, Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said recently.

Clemens, a Houston resident, is believed to be leaning toward returning to the Astros should they appear competitive when he decides in May or June.

The Cardinals' best opportunity would rest with the Astros faltering early and Clemens reconsidering a return to either the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees. A contending St. Louis club also would be a geographical fit for a player who last year was allowed to miss selected road series when not scheduled to pitch.

After contemplating retirement, Clemens last June re-signed with Houston. His contract was worth about $12 million, prorated over 19 starts that covered 113 1/3 innings.

Clemens was 38-18 in 84 starts with ERAs of 2.98, 1.87 and 2.30 the past three seasons. He completed only one start.

Manager Tony La Russa declined to address the matter at length Tuesday, citing its potential as "a distraction" as the Cardinals piece together a rotation including Chris Carpenter, Wells and five candidates for three remaining spots.

The Cardinals believe Adam Wainwright will secure one spot if Jason Isringhausen is available as the closer. Anthony Reyes is also a strong candidate after making 17 regular-season starts and winning Game 1 of the World Series as a rookie. Duncan established veteran reliever Looper as the favorite to win the fifth spot but also cited Ryan Franklin and Brad Thompson as alternatives.

Non-roster lefthander Randy Kiesler also has left a strong first impression, said Duncan, who challenged the notion that he is working with little safety net should someone falter this spring.

Duncan said he hopes to have his rotation set around March 18, when the club returns from a two-game trip to Orlando, where it plays the Atlanta Braves. The Cardinals, meanwhile, will survey available trade avenues for starting pitching. The Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Yankees offer potential help; but the Cardinals admit to only tepid interest in the Phillies' Jon Lieber and oft-injured Yankees enigma Carl Pavano.

The Dodgers' Brad Penny represents a more attractive target. Signed through 2008 with a club option for 2009, the 28-year-old thrower also fits the Cardinals' financial profile. Coming off a 16-9 record and 4.33 ERA, Penny is due $7.5 million this season and $8.5 million in 2008 with an option for $8.75 million in '09. (The Cardinals committed $13 million to lefthander Mark Mulder this winter, though Mulder will miss at least three months this season rehabilitating from rotator cuff surgery.)

Penny struck out 148 in 189 innings last season and was named his league's starting pitcher in the All-Star Game. His 16 wins tied for the league lead.

"You can look at any time," Duncan said. "You're going to listen to names."

fulldeck · Post by **fulldeck** » February 28 07, 5:52 am

As long as they don't give him the perks he received in Houston I wouldn't mind this at all. He has to be at the park everyday though.

longhornbaseball · Post by **longhornbaseball** » February 28 07, 6:43 am

I'd give Roger Clemens whatever the hell he wants to put the birds on the bat on his chest. Ain't gonna happen though. Must have been a slow news day.

Cronos · Post by **Cronos** » February 28 07, 7:39 am

nagu, nagu...naga...nagunna happen, anyway.

Hungary Jack · Post by **Hungary Jack** » February 28 07, 9:18 am

the Cardinals admit to only tepid interest in the Phillies' Jon Lieber

This is interesting. They were interested in Jeff Weaver for $6M and Miggy Batista for $12M over 2 years, but not Lieber at $7.5M?

And how on earth could we trade for Penny? Maybe Duncan, Rasmus and Garcia would do it.

jagtrader · Post by **jagtrader** » February 28 07, 9:21 am

Clemens will never happen. If it did, I'd invoke my Manny clause and not watch a game until he leaves.

Post by **heyzeus** » February 28 07, 9:57 am

Clemens won't happen because he wouldn't exactly fit our need. He most likely wouldn't play until June, and we need a starting pitcher pretty much now til the return of Mulder.

Anyway, Clemens doesn't want to play in St Louis and his demands would amount to roughly $1 million per start plus the right to sit at home in Houston unless he's pitching. In short....nagannahappen.

This story is one of those times that makes me wish spring training, and the lack of actual baseball, was a bit shorter.

stlmark · Post by **stlmark** » February 28 07, 10:08 am

I would take Brad Penny for sure, but I want that guy to get a little more into shape. With his slight weight problem, he could break down. I haven't seen any pictures of him this spring. Is he in better shape by any chance?

GatewaySnayke · Post by **GatewaySnayke** » February 28 07, 11:52 am

Does anyone else laugh when people say, "I wouldn't watch if Player X was on this team"?

I can't stand Roger Clemens, in fact, I think he's the Hulk Hogan of Major League Baseball, but the dude can pitch, and seeing as how the Cardinals are a little unreliable in the staff, I'm not about to say that I wouldn't watch the team I love because they have an overweight, egocentric goof on the team.

Same goes for Manny...people say that they wouldn't watch if Manny played on the team, and they never have a good reason. "Oh, he skips Spring Training." "He wears glasses that plays music." "He pees in the Green Monster."

Ahh, baseball, something that should be taken as seriously as a heart attack, metastatic cancer, anuerysm and terrorist attack.

Popeye_Card · Post by **Popeye_Card** » February 28 07, 11:57 am

GatewaySnayke wrote:Does anyone else laugh when people say, "I wouldn't watch if Player X was on this team"?

Why is it so odd? If you really dislike a player, it's your choice to not watch the team.

Clemens and Manny aren't on my "won't watch" list, but Barry Bonds is. Sammy Sosa is/was. I'd just choose to do something else with my free time during their stint on the team.

--P--