Yankees become clear front-runners to land Clemens

	Roger Clemens pitched for the Yankees from 1999-2003, helping them win two World Series titles and four AL pennants. David Bergman/SI
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By unloading Randy Johnson, the New York Yankees didn't merely clear $14 million of his $16 million salary off their books and move a pitcher who didn't comfortably fit in New York back home to Arizona (not to mention one who just had back surgery -- though word is he's fine and will be ready for spring training). Or add four younger, less expensive players to the Yankees' organization. They also greatly enhanced their chances of signing the star pitcher they really want: Roger Clemens.

Some baseball officials say they believe Clemens is much more likely to sign with the Yankees now that Johnson is out. And that's true not only because the Yankees have more money to spend with Johnson gone. Word is, Clemens doesn't particularly care for Johnson and wouldn't have considered coming to the Yankees had the Big Unit still been in pinstripes.

While it isn't known whether Clemens' negative feelings toward Johnson helped spur the Yankees to trade Johnson trade, Clemens' feelings didn't surprise one Yankees person. Told Clemens doesn't much like the moody Johnson, the person responded, "Who does?''

In any case, baseball people now view the Yankees as the strong favorite to sign Clemens over the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox. Things can change, however. Clemens isn't expected to pitch until late May at the earliest despite the Yankees' preference that he start earlier. But Clemens is thought to be excited about returning to a place where there's urgency and drama surrounding every outing and a World Series-like atmosphere (though to be fair, the Astros have been in more World Series than the Yankees since The Rocket left New York).

Clemens' camp is officially saying that The Rocket hasn't even decided whether he will pitch in 2007, although his agent Randy Hendricks recently conceded to the Houston Chronicle that it's "better than 50-50'' that Clemens plays somewhere. As we all know by now, Clemens isn't much for math. He returned the first time after being 99 percent retired.

Here are my own estimates. It's 99 percent certain he plays somewhere, 75 percent likely he'll play for the Yankees. The best guess has the Yankees signing him to a $23 million contract prorated over the final four months to pay him close to $15 million.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has tried to emphasize starting pitching since taking over as in 1998, and it's hard to believe he would have left himself with a rotation that depends on both Kei Igawa and Carl Pavano, two question marks, without believing he at least had a decent chance at landing Clemens. "If he's interested in playing for us, we'd be interested in having him back,'' Cashman said.

Andy Pettitte's re-introductory press conference was Thursday in the Bronx, and it's easy to imagine Clemens will be joining his friend eventually. The Yankees were aware that Pettitte's people were out house hunting (he must be figuring on two years, not just the one), and it isn't a stretch to think that since Pettitte's people are also Clemens' people, and they will report their findings back to The Rocket. Even if Pettitte isn't a draw for Clemens, his buddy provides a ready-made excuse in case Clemens bolts from his hometown of Houston.

It is also believed that the Yankees now may even be willing to soften their historical stance not to permit relaxed schedules for stars. While the Yankees won't allow it to be as relaxed as it's been in Houston, Clemens has gotten used to being able to attend a lot of family functions through the Astros' come-as-he-pleases rule and might find the usual rules confining.

"I'm not going to speculate about that,'' Cashman said. "It's not something on the table, it's not a frontburner issue.''

Perhaps not yet.