Rocket Boost: Clemens Signs $28M Deal To Return To Yankees

Cashman (l) And Clemens Agree To Prorated One-Year, $28M Deal

The Yankees have signed P Roger Clemens to a one-year, $28M contract, prorated for the reminder of the season to about $18.5M. The Astros and Red Sox also were bidding for Clemens (Mult., 5/7). In Newark, Ed Price reports the Yankees “decided in March they would be willing to spend the prorated share” of $25.5M, but GM Brian Cashman agreed to the $28M figure on Thursday. Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner signed off on the deal Friday on a conference call with President Randy Levine, COO Lon Trost and his sons Hal and Hank, who both are General Partners. Clemens will earn $153,005 per day once he is added to the official roster (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/7).

FLEX SCHEDULE: Clemens’ contract “allows him some flexibility in his schedule, giving him the freedom to return to Houston on days he is not scheduled to pitch.” The team refused to add that stipulation in contract negotiations last year (N.Y. TIMES, 5/7). Cashman said, “He may be here sometimes and not be here sometimes. We’ll be happy when he shows up every fifth day to pitch.” In N.Y., Murray Chass reports Clemens’ deal will cost the Yankees a $7.5M luxury tax hit, putting the total spent on Clemens at $26M. Clemens’ contract “raised eyebrows and sent heads shaking in baseball executive circles.” One exec said, “What?!” Another called it “mind boggling” (N.Y. TIMES, 5/7). Angels GM Bill Stoneman said of Clemens signing in midseason, “I don’t think that’s good for the integrity of the game. He shouldn’t be able to sit on the sidelines, watch how things are going and decide where to go. No club should be able to benefit from that. I’m thinking about 30 clubs, not one. I just don’t think it’s right.” In L.A., Bill Shaikin notes the prorated salary and luxury tax costs are “more than the entire player payroll” of the D’Rays (L.A. TIMES, 5/7).

THE NEGOTIATORS: The Yankees’ internal talks about Clemens “provide a glimpse into the changing power structure at the top of the organization.” Leading up to yesterday’s announcement, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner “have become involved deeper in the organization and were part of the franchise’s discussions” (N.Y. TIMES, 5/7). On Long Island, Ken Davidoff reported Hank Steinbrenner has “become the clear heir apparent to his father.” While he is “nowhere as hands-on as [Yankees Managing General Partner Steve] Swindal used to be, Hank is spending long hours” at the team’s Tampa HQs. Swindal, who is going through a divorce with George Steinbrenner’s daughter, “reports to work but does virtually nothing.” Hal Steinbrenner “shows up at Legends [Field] sporadically and doesn’t do much, as he is coping with a divorce of his own” (NEWSDAY, 5/6). ESPN.com’s Buster Olney provides a look into how the deal was completed (ESPN.com, 5/6).

HOME DRAW: CNBC’s Darren Rovell reported the Astros last year averaged nearly 3,000 more fans for home games when Clemens pitched. If Clemens “can draw the same amount of fans ... and starts making appearances in early June (three weeks before he did in 2006), [he] could get in 14 home starts ... and generate an additional $1,117,000 in gate revenue.” However, the Yankees are averaging over 49,000 fans per home game, and there are “plenty of stars on the team that influence purchasing decision on any given night” (CNBC.com, 5/6).

NOT-SO-HIDDEN AGENDA: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes under the header “Rog & Yanks Wag The Dog.” Raissman: “The financial nature of this transaction was not a priority on [Yankees] radio or TV. The propaganda machine was busy pushing the Candyland script” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/7).

McLane Calls Clemens Signing With Yankees Disappointing

ASTROS, RED SOX REAX: Astros Owner Drayton McLane said Clemens’ decision to sign with the Yankees was “disappointing, but we can’t continue with this uncertainty year after year.” Clemens’ agent Randy Hendricks said, “To me, the biggest difference between the three teams was that one wanted him right now” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/7). In Houston, Richard Justice writes, “Once you’ve played for the Yankees, you’re going to be frustrated by life in Drayton McLane’s bottom-line world. The Astros spend enough to be competitive but no more.” The team also told Hendricks it would not allow Clemens “to set his own travel schedule” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/7). In Boston, Gordon Edes reports the Red Sox offered Clemens an $18M prorated contract, $10M less than the Yankees’ deal, last Tuesday. Sources said that Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino thought Clemens “was still days from making a decision ... leaving the Sox time to tweak their offer” (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/7). Also in Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes, “It came down to Yankee desperation and Yankee money.” With the $28M deal, Clemens becomes the highest-paid player in MLB (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/7).