Clemens signs with Yankees

[seaver41]

sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2862088

NEW YORK -- Roger Clemens returned to the New York Yankees, making a dramatic announcement to fans from the owner's box during Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners.

Roger Clemens
Clemens

Clemens' contract will be a pro-rated salary of $28 million dollars. His pro-rated salary last season was $22 million.

Clemens will make about $4.5 million per month for June, July, August and September.

At the end of the seventh-inning stretch, Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard told fans to turn their attention to the box, where Clemens was standing with a microphone. As the video scoreboard in right-center televised Clemens, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner made the announcement himself.

"It's a privilege to be back," he said.

Clemens agreed to a minor league contract and most likely will join the Yankees after several weeks getting into shape.

Clemens, who is close friends with Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, said Pettitte is going to be upset with him because he kept the news quiet. The two talked as recently as Saturday night and Clemens didn't share the news.

"It's time to go to work," Clemens said. "I've got a lot of work to do, to get back up here."

I guess that whole "I want to go to a winning team" thing was BS. The way this was announced was so over-the-top.

[Star Man]

seaver41 said:

I guess that whole "I want to go to a winning team" thing was BS. [...]

He is going to a winning team....

[seaver41]

I don't think a team with a 14-15 record and 5 games back in the division is the definition of a winning team.

[Josh]

They are getting there, they had some injury problems last month. Like I've said countless times, they suck every April. Once we hit June, our rotation will be:

1.Clemens
2.Wang
3.Pettite
4.Moose
5.Igawa/Karstens/Rasner/Pavano/Hughes


That'll be pretty damn good if everyone is healthy.

[seaver41]

Clemens isn't their solution. He goes what, 5, 6 innings? That's 3 innings for an already burned out bullpen. Just more money for 2nd place.

That rotation isn't "pretty d--n good". 3 of them are over 35 and won't go deep. That 5-slot is pretty awful. That leaves Wang who is overrated.

[Star Man]

seaver41 said:

I don't think a team with a 14-15 record and 5 games back in the division is the definition of a winning team.

Big deal...they got off to a slow start in April when they missed their two best pitchers for most of the month. They still have the best offense in the AL, and now that Mussina and Wang are back, a solid enough starting rotation.

[nymets0065]

Clemens gets raped by Mets if he pitches in subway series, im callin it now

[seaver41]

It's a shame Pedro won't be ready for when the Mets play the Yankees. I'd like to see a Pedro vs. Clemens rematch.

[Fish Troll]

Wow Clemans sign up early. Well as seaver said, Yankees GM went to Clemans house and basicly beg for him to come back with a must sign contract.

[Josh]

marlinstroll said:

Wow Clemans sign up early. Well as seaver said, Yankees GM went to Clemans house and basicly beg for him to come back with a must sign contract.

Nope, it actually was Steinbrenner. The GM doesn't like making any of those big name moves.

[Fish Troll]

seaver41 said:

It's a shame Pedro won't be ready for when the Mets play the Yankees. I'd like to see a Pedro vs. Clemens rematch.

Its going to be the battle of the insane contract signing: Dice-K vs Rocket

[Josh]

marlinstroll said:

seaver41 said:

It's a shame Pedro won't be ready for when the Mets play the Yankees. I'd like to see a Pedro vs. Clemens rematch.

Its going to be the battle of the insane contract signing: Dice-K vs Rocket

Your acting like it is the worst contract ever. Remember last year he was paid $30million to pitch after the all-star break only? In this contract he is getting paid five million less than that and will be playing more. It is insane, but not as insane as your making it out to be.

[Fish Troll]

admin said:

marlinstroll said:

Its going to be the battle of the insane contract signing: Dice-K vs Rocket

Your acting like it is the worst contract ever. Remember last year he was paid $30million to pitch after the all-star break only? In this contract he is getting paid five million less than that and will be playing more. It is insane, but not as insane as your making it out to be.

Any contract over $20M is insane. Last year he sign a $23M contract. He received 1/2 of it because he sign in the middle of the season. This year its $28M, he'll be paid 3/4 because he only miss April this time. Its not a stupid contract, Clemans did threated to not come back unless they offer him an insane contract, and the Yankees did needed a boost if they want to catch up with the Red Sox.

[seaver41]

admin said:

marlinstroll said:

Its going to be the battle of the insane contract signing: Dice-K vs Rocket

Your acting like it is the worst contract ever. Remember last year he was paid $30million to pitch after the all-star break only? In this contract he is getting paid five million less than that and will be playing more. It is insane, but not as insane as your making it out to be.

$28M for a 40-year-old who only pitches 5-6 innings per start and doesn't go on the road is pretty bad.

[Fish Troll]

baltimore said:

seaver41 said:

I don't think a team with a 14-15 record and 5 games back in the division is the definition of a winning team.

Big deal...they got off to a slow start in April when they missed their two best pitchers for most of the month. They still have the best offense in the AL, and now that Mussina and Wang are back, a solid enough starting rotation.

And Red Sox, what have they been doing so far?