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Roger Clemens A Cub?

Roger Clemens might be a viable option for the Cubs for one or two years.  He cannot play for the Astros for a portion of the season regardless of what he does, and seems to want to continue, especially after his stellar performance last year.

Star-divide

We seem to have a glut of free agent dollars we want to spend but can't find who to give them to(we offered Furcal some serious dough, and have spent some money on relievers).  Prior and Z will need more money, but Maddux will be gone, discounted or, as I hope, a pitching coach, and Wood will resign for less than he's making right now.  That said, I think that a one or two year contract for Roger Clemens would be a gamble, but might take this team to a new level.

As I like it this way, here is the bad news first:

  1.  He has had injury trouble the past year, which may continue, especially the back trouble.
  2.  He is 43, and only Satchel Paige and Nolan Ryan come to mind with being this good this old, for pitchers at least.
  3.  He will cost a pretty penny, prob in the 12 mil/year range
  4.  He will not be here in three years, no matter what.
That all said, his pluses are so obvious that I don't know whether I will overlook a great many, but here goes:
  1.  At 43, he is about as good as he's ever been(1.87 ERA), which leads me to believe that he can continue to play well, even if we need to reduce his workload to around 25 starts a year.
  2.  Kerry Wood.  Yes, Kerry Wood.  There would be no better tutiledge for fixing his arm motion, workout regimen, and health for the future.
  3.  Mark Prior.  There would be no better tutiledge for fixing his arm motion, workout regimen, and health for the future.
  4.  Carlos Zambrano.  There would be no better tutiledge, and especially for securing his future health and success.
  5.  We don't need to give up anything for him,like Zito, who may not stay much longer, and may not be better at all for the time he is here.
  6.  He can bat better than Zito most likely(.187 isn't bad, .038 for Zito is)(Small point, but Zito might not want to bat either)
  7.  He would make our team more attractive to free agents, and seem to put us in the elite teams
  8.  Rusch becomes expendable, and can be trade bait next year(He is a good pitcher, at a great price), especially if Wood gets back on the right track.  Or we can trade Williams in a package for Zito, which makes me excited just thinking about.
  9.  He wouldn't play for the Astros, Yankees, Rangers or any other team.
  10.  Clemens/Prior/Z/Maddux/Wood or Williams.  Wood would be our fifth starter, and Maddux our fourth.  Who needs hitting?
  11.  Heart.  He played his heart out in the playoffs, and is a good teammate who doesn't rock the boat.
  12.  The money he brings in to the team through merchandise would be significant.  I have seen a ton of Clemens-Astros jerseys in Houston, and that's a fringe benefit.
I am sure that there are many angles unexplored, but right now, I think that if he is thinking about the Yankees, he might just consider going somewhere like Chicago, and tutor great young pitching talent.  I personally would like to see him Bleed Cubbie Blue.  I'm anxious to hear what you guys think about the possibility of him coming  if we court him, and about what might happen once we do.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

0 recs  |  Comment 11 comments

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rocket?
clemens eh?hmmmmmmm.....i suppose it couldn't hurt since we have no idea if wood will stay healthy?who knows maybe clemens could help kerry with his mechanics?i wouldn't call it a steal at $12 mil.per year so maybe we could go for someone and offer a longer term deal.

by cubz409 on Jan 5, 2006 4:12 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

He won't
play for the Cubs.  Forget it.  He'll retire first.  And he isn't interested in "tutoring young pitchers."  He might play for the Yankees, but likely it's Houston on May 1st or retirement.
Baseball can be summed up in one word--you never know--Joaquin Andujar

by Josh77 on Jan 5, 2006 4:25 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Oh
and 12 million a year for Clemens?  You're nuts.  He made 18 million last year and wants a raise to come back.  He'll cost at least 18.5 million to Houston and to come to Chicago?  22-23 million.
Baseball can be summed up in one word--you never know--Joaquin Andujar

by Josh77 on Jan 5, 2006 4:27 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Josh is right...
... I think Clemens will pitch for the USA in the WBC, take some time after that and think over whether he wants to pitch in 2006 for a major league team or not, and if he does, he'll sign with the Astros on May 1.

by Al on Jan 5, 2006 5:46 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

We already got Maddux.
I know Clemens was ten times as good last season but do we really need another aged pitcher who may or may not begin to decline rapidly?  I'm all for Zito.  I also think that Hendry needs to make the D-Rays pay attention to us because we could still make adeal for Lugo.
Hey Norm...if you were a hot dog...would ya eat yourself?

by EbbyCalvinNukeLaLoosh on Jan 5, 2006 7:04 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

STOP
callin me meat!
Hey Norm...if you were a hot dog...would ya eat yourself?

by EbbyCalvinNukeLaLoosh on Jan 5, 2006 9:08 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Pipe dream, I know...
But how bout we sign Clemens and trade for Zito!  Think of the rotation!

Zambrano
Prior
Clemens
Zito
Wood/Maddux

I'm sorry, but we could have a team of Korey's and Macias's and still get to the world series.  

Hey, before everyone starts screaming that I am smoking crack or totally stupid, I know Clemens would never, NEVER, sign with us.  A man can dream right, I mean, come on, I am a Cubs fan, it's really all I have.

by DTJchris on Jan 5, 2006 7:58 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

not so much
You know, I'm not sure I'd want Clemens to come to Chicago, not matter what it meant.

It's kind of like that scene in Major League II where Harry Doyle is talking about Jack Parkman as Parkman rounds the bases after a homer.

"It's funny how a new uniform can change your opinion about a guy..." (covers the microphone) "He's still a **."

"If it takes forever."

by JDay on Jan 5, 2006 10:58 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

ofcourse we would take him
but if he was going to come back, there is no attraction to chicago other then money.  you have to figure that both the bosox or the yanks would be more then happy to outbid us and each of those teams have more to offer, since he is a legend in their organizations.  if he could pitch another good season, he would in essence be choosing which cap he'd wear in the hall of fame.  even the jays would be more attractive, and perhaps have a wicked scary staff if roger went there.  

though, id be willing to see hendry pay him a couple million to be wood's big brother for a season.  we know kerry idolized him, so if roger suggested changes to his mechanics kerry might take it to heart.  texans are stubborn, so might as well use one to deal with another.  imagine, if wood rehabed with roger and spent a healthy offseason training/working with him, it could make the difference from wood being injured or the yearly strikeout king.

by austeros on Jan 5, 2006 11:28 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Blech
Can't see it happening.

Roger will always do what's best for Roger.  We just can't offer him what the Astros or Yankees can.

NO SOUP FOR YOU!

by nickler on Jan 6, 2006 6:32 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

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