Rocket rumors soar Return to Bronx possible with Astros in free fall By ANTHONY McCARRON DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Roger Clemens says he's not leaving Houston just yet, but some executives think he might be pushing behind the scenes for trade back to Yankees. It is a scene that stirs hearts from the corridors of power at the Stadium to the Barcalounger of any Yankee fan, to perhaps, Roger Clemens' sprawl in a Houston suburb: The Rocket, back in pinstripes, riding to the Yankees' rescue like some flame-throwing cowboy. But how possible is a reunion between one of baseball's all-time greats and its most famous team? Depends on who's talking. The struggling Astros say they are not shopping their ace, but their owner did not rule it out. Clemens recently said, "I'm not going anywhere now, I know that for sure," but he didn't invoke his no-trade clause or slam the door, either. Some rival baseball executives believe Houston will deal Clemens for future help if it continues to stumble, especially if the Astros find a rich contender willing to rent him for half a season. The Yankees, meanwhile, watch with interest, but no public comment. Privately, they wonder if Clemens has a handshake deal with Houston owner Drayton McLane that would trigger a trade to the Yankees if Clemens wanted out. And what it would take to bring Clemens back. "This," said a National League executive, "is going to be something to watch." Right now, according to McLane and his general manager, Tim Purpura, there is nothing to see. One of the worst teams in the National League, the Astros have gotten off to a terrible start, but both men stressed in recent telephone interviews that Clemens was not being shopped. Purpura apologized for the vehemence of his answer. "I hope you don't think I'm being rude, but Roger is not on the market and that's where it stands," he said. "We're trying to get our ship righted here. What Roger has communicated to me and what his agents have communicated to me is that it's a non-issue. We have to move on here. We have to get ourselves going." "Trading him has never been a consideration," added McLane. "There has not been one discussion about trading Roger. So the Yankees need to look elsewhere for another pitcher." But the owner also admitted, "You look at every situation. If there's any reason, you'd consider it. We traded Richard Hidalgo last season because he wanted to leave Houston and he had a contract." Asked if he had a handshake deal with Clemens to trade him to the Yankees if the season went sour, McLane said: "No more than you have with any other player. It's no different than with any other player." Clemens, 42, said he would retire after the 2003 season, but decided to sign with his hometown Astros after Andy Pettitte did. Clemens won his seventh Cy Young award last season, then hedged last winter before deciding to return. He signed a one-year deal for $18 million. In '04, he made $6.8 million, and the Astros enjoyed a bump in attendance from 2.45 million to 3.09 million. Clemens has a special arrangement with the Astros that allows him to follow his own schedule. If he is not pitching during a road series, he has the option of staying in Houston. The pitcher enjoyed being able to watch his four sons play sports last season. "Roger helped revitalize baseball in Houston," McLane said. "He is a vital part of our franchise." But Clemens never rejects the possibility of a trade. During Sunday night's ESPN broadcast of the Giants-Astros game, Joe Morgan asked Clemens if he would consider pitching elsewhere this season. Clemens said only, "I'm not going anywhere now, I know that for sure." In an interview published in The Sporting News, Clemens was asked if he could envision finishing his career with someone else. Clemens called the question "almost comical," then added, "but it might not be when you get to late July, whenever the trading deadline is. You don't know what direction (the Astros are) going to go in." One American League executive opined, "Roger might be banging the drums for it behind the scenes." Of course, Clemens has the ultimate control. There is a full no-trade provision in his contract. "And if we did ask him if he'd accept a trade, someone would have to pay him an additional $3 million," Purpura said. "Any club in position to have the luxury tax imposed would have huge tax implications, and then there's the consideration of what would have to come back to us." For a change, the Yankees might have what it takes, prospect-wise, to get a deal done. As part of their shakeup during their early season slump, they promoted rookie second baseman Robinson Cano, who has been one of their hottest hitters. Chien-Ming Wang took Jaret Wright's spot in the rotation and has pitched well, giving the Yankees two potential trading chips. The Astros lost a lot of offense last winter when Carlos Beltran and Jeff Kent left as free agents. This season, Lance Berkman missed the first month and Jeff Bagwell went on the disabled list after having surgery on his shoulder. Joe Torre has said Cano reminds him of Rod Carew and perhaps he'd be a good mix with young Astro third baseman Morgan Ensberg, who McLane is particularly proud of. Of course, the Yankees might not be the only suitors. Clemens has a good relationship with Curt Schilling, which might facilitate a return to Boston. Still, the Astros say nothing is imminent. They might be willing to wait longer than most teams before conceding the season, since they were 10? games out at the All-Star break last year and ended up winning the wild card. "We have dominant pitching and that's what wins championships," Purpura said. "So for us to consider tearing this apart now is ludicrous." Told the Astros are clinging to hope, an NL executive said, "Don't let them kid you, they're thinking of trading him right now. They're not going anywhere now and not for a long time." Other executives disagree. "He's someone they won't move because he means more to them long-term this year than just as a player for the Yankees," one AL executive said. "Why would they let him finish his career as a Yankee rather than as an Astro? It's like having the Mona Lisa, you just hang it right where you are." http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/310571p-265720c.html --

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