Roger Clemens Reportedly Being Pursued by the Houston Astros

Roger Clemens could be on his way back to Major League Baseball with the Houston Astros, though his role has still yet to be determined.  

According to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros will meet with Clemens next Monday and are willing to let him participate in team activities as much as he wants during the 2013 season. 

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The Astros plan to open their 2013 schedule to Clemens, allowing him to participate as much as he wants during spring training and the regular season. Owner Jim Crane and pitching coach Doug Brocail are onboard with the move, which would see Clemens take a role he’s often hinted at since retiring in 2007.

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In the same report, Smith notes that Astros owner Jim Crane is talking like he wants Clemens to pitch again. 

However, general manager Jeff Luhnow is quoted as saying that he is excited about having Clemens around as a mentor for the Astros pitchers. 

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So far, all indications are he’s eager to participate, eager to help our young pitchers. And certainly, there’s a lot of (acceptance) on our side to get him involved...So it’s great when you can produce him in the flesh and he can talk about his experiences

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While a member of the Sugar Land Skeeters, Clemens did say that he doesn't see himself pitching in the big leagues again (via Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe). 

At 50 years old, Clemens pitching in the major leagues again would be the equivalent of a sideshow attraction at the circus.

He doesn't have enough stuff to get MLB players out, but he would certainly sell tickets for a franchise that is in desperate need of help at the big-league level.

But this offer appears to be a job where he would help with the young pitching the Astros are trying to build for the future, not pitching for the team. Clemens is one of the most successful pitchers in baseball history, winning seven Cy Young awards, so it will be a great experience for the Astros players to soak up all the knowledge that he can impart. 

As long as Clemens doesn't try to make a spectacle of himself with the Astros, it couldn't hurt the franchise, which is moving from the National League Central to the loaded American League West in 2013. 

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