Houston Astros starting pitcher and future Hall of Famer, Roger Clemens has told several media outlets that he will “not ask to be traded”, despite the Astros struggles in 2005.
The two most likely destinations that had been rumored were returns to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, with the Texas Rangers popping up most recently.
There are several things hindering a potential deal for Clemens. The first is the “trade bonus” that kicks in if he’s dealt during the ’05 season, which is believed to be somewhere between $3-5 million on top of his current salary.
Secondly, Clemens has veto rights on any deal to an undesirable locale. Finally, the teams mentioned above have little in the way of top level minor league talent available, making a deal that much more cloudy.
Of course, the involvement of a third or even a fourth team in any deal could make the pieces fit a little better.
