Clemens shuns retirement to hook up with Houston

HOUSTON -- Roger Clemens is pushing back his retirement, agreeing Monday to a $5 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros.

The six-time Cy Young Award winner had said for more than a year that he planned to quit after pitching last season for the New York Yankees.

But he was persuaded to join the Astros, his hometown team, after close friend and former Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte signed with Houston last month.

"It's great to come home," Clemens said.

Houston is deferring $3.5 million of Clemens' salary without interest until 2006, according to contract terms obtained by The Associated Press. In addition to the base, Clemens can earn an additional $1.4 million based on the Astros' home attendance: $200,000 for each 100,000 fans starting at 2.8 million and running through 3.4 million. The Astros drew about 2.45 million fans last year.

"It's a great thing for Houston and, frankly, Roger has earned the right to do whatever he wants to," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said.

Clemens, 41, was 17-9 with a 3.91 ERA last season, his fifth with the Yankees. He spent his first 13 seasons in Boston, then went to Toronto for two years before moving on to New York, where he won World Series titles in 1999 and 2000.

"Roger Clemens was a great warrior for the Yankees -- a teacher and a leader," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement. "He told the world he was retiring, and we had no choice but to believe him."

His 310-160 record puts him 17th on the career wins list, and his 4,099 strikeouts place him third behind Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Steve Carlton (4,136).

"His charisma, character, credibility is all going to take this franchise to a new level," Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said.

Clemens' last appearance for the Yankees was a memorable one, in Game 4 of the World Series against the Florida Marlins. Flashbulbs popped repeatedly as fans photographed what they thought would be his final pitches.

Fifty friends and family members flew to Miami to watch the game; Clemens didn't get a decision as the Yankees lost to Florida 4-3 in 12 innings. Even the Marlins' players applauded after Clemens struck out Luis Castillo in what was thought to be his final major league pitch.

"So many people were using flash photography, it was quite amazing," Clemens said then. "I think everybody started understanding that it was going to be my last inning, my last hitter, my last pitch."

Clemens thought about pitching for the United States at the 2004 Olympics, but the Americans were eliminated in qualifying in November.

Clemens' outlook on retirement started to change Dec. 11, when Pettitte -- who also lives in the Houston area -- agreed to a $31.5 million, three-year contract with the Astros.

"I was in a shutdown mode," Clemens said. "Obviously, I think I have a lot to give. When I get into that dugout, I'm going to be excited to get back to work. We want to get to that final step and make some memories together."

Houston, which has never been to a World Series, will head to spring training with a projected starting rotation that includes Clemens, Pettitte, Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller.

"Throughout history, this franchise always has been looked on as the underdog," Hunsicker said.

With the Astros, Clemens will have to bat regularly after spending his entire career in the American League. He'll also be pitching in a hitter-friendly ballpark where 186 homers were hit last season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, seventh-most in the major leagues.

New York general manager Brian Cashman believed Clemens' retirement statements and made no effort to re-sign him.

"I can't think of him as anything but a Yankee regardless of what jersey he wore before us or after us," Cashman said. "Houston is getting one of the greatest all-time pitchers. He lived up to everything we wanted. He's his own man. He chose to pitch for Houston."

Former Yankees teammates wasn't surprised by the decision.

"I guess the next best thing to retirement is playing at home," Jeff Nelson said.