Roger Clemens' son took the Rocket deep on his first real pitch of spring training, crushing a trademark fastball over the left-field fence.

"That was probably one of the harder fastballs I cut loose,'' Clemens said after throwing to son Koby and other Houston Astros minor leaguers Monday at Kissimme, Fla. "He got my attention.''

Then the Rocket got Koby's. The next time his oldest son came to the plate, Roger buzzed him high and tight with another fastball. The younger Clemens dodged the pitch, then smiled at his father.

"He was like, 'Sorry about that pitch inside. I was trying to change the view of the ball for you a little bit,''' said Koby, a third baseman who was drafted by Houston last summer. "I said, 'I knew what you were doing.'''

Clemens, 43, got applause from about 100 fans as he walked to the mound behind the Astros' minor-league complex. He threw 18 pitches from behind a screen before his 19-year-old son took him deep on his first pitch after the screen was moved away.

Clemens threw a total of 66 pitches to Astros minor leaguers in preparation for the World Baseball Classic, then said he's no closer to deciding his future beyond the event. Asked if he was retiring, Clemens shied away.

"I'm not even going to mention that word,'' he said. "I've been trying to do that for a couple of years now and it's not working.''

Troy Percival might be headed for retirement after leaving Detroit Tigers camp in Lakeland, Fla. His locker was cleaned out Monday and the nameplate removed, and he could not be reached for comment.

The four-time All-Star, 10th on the league's career saves list with 324, struggled Sunday in his inning of relief in a simulated game at Joker Marchant Stadium, which included a long home run to nonroster invitee Mike Rabelo.

"Obviously, in his mind, he doesn't think that he's ready to compete at this level,'' Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Monday.

Percival, who signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Tigers before last season, partially tore a muscle near his pitching elbow last July and finished a 1-3 with a 5.76 ERA and eight saves in 26 appearances.

"Never was I counting on him or not counting on him,'' Leyland said. "The plan was to get him in here and we'll see what unfolds and we'll take it from there.''

The Tigers acquired free agent closer Todd Jones in the offseason and signed him to a two-year, $11-million deal. Jones saved 40 games last season with the Florida Marlins.

At Jupiter, Fla., Joe Borowski appears to be the leading candidate to replace Jones with the Marlins, though the former Cubs reliever's last save came in May 2004.

"I've been battling injuries the last two years, and I'm finally coming into camp feeling fantastic, 100 percent, no problems,'' said Borowski, 34. "I'm looking forward to going out there and proving wrong the people who say, 'He was never really any good.'''

Borowski's best season came in 2003, when he had 33 saves and a 2.63 ERA. He missed much of 2004 with a shoulder injury, then broke a bone in his right forearm in spring training last year. After the Cubs released him in June, Borowski joined Tampa Bay and set a club record with 21 consecutive scoreless innings. But then he gave up 15 earned runs in his final 14 1-3 innings of the season.

At Tampa, Fla., New York Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield took part in most drills Monday, including batting practice and running, after sitting out Sunday with back spasms.

Hideki Matsui has a sore left knee and was held out of baserunning drills.

The two will likely see limited action in, or even sit out, the team's intrasquad game Tuesday.

Ricardo Rincon finally arrived at St. Louis Cardinals camp in Jupiter, Fla., nearly two weeks late, and immediately began throwing live batting practice.

The 35-year-old left-handed reliever, signed to a two-year, $2.9 million free-agent contract in December, was dealing with visa problems in his native Mexico. Rincon wasted little time in meeting with manager Tony La Russa to smooth any hard feelings.

Third baseman Scott Rolen, coming back from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss most of last season, continued to show good progress and could play by this weekend, according to La Russa.

At Bradenton, Fla., the Pittsburgh Pirates appear to be resigned to miss pitcher Kip Wells for extended time due to a blood clot near his right arm.

If Wells has surgery, he would likely miss several months and possibly the entire season. A decision was expected within the next five days, Pittsburgh general manager Dave Littlefield said.

Wells returned to Bradenton after spending three days in St. Louis, where his condition was diagnosed by Dr. Robert Thompson, a vascular surgeon at Washington University, Littlefield said.

Although Wells was 8-18 last season, the right-hander led the staff with 182 innings and has a career 4.36 ERA.

At Dunedin, Fla., Toronto Blue Jays right-handers Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett had opposite outings during the team's first intrasquad game.

Halladay needed just seven pitches to retire three hitters. Burnett needed 19, allowing one run and two hits with a strikeout.

Halladay's 2005 season ended July 8 when he broke his left leg pitching against Texas. Pitching coach Brad Arnsberg said he would like to see Halladay go two innings during his first spring start Thursday against Tampa Bay.

Burnett, who signed a five-year, $55 million contract with Toronto in December, is scheduled to make his Blue Jays debut Friday against Team Canada.