ST. LOUIS — The New York Yankees never stopped calling Roger "I'm an effing jerk for going back to the Yankees too" Clemens, offering him George Steinbrenner's riches for four months of services. Astros owner Drayton McLane and general manager Tim Purpura had preliminary talks, but they were hesitant to discuss anything beyond a three-month tour for the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.
The Yankees lured Clemens back with a pro-rated $28 million one-year deal, which will pay him about $4.5 million a month as soon as he is activated on the major-league roster. Just like the $22 million pro-rated deal that paid him about $12.6 million over three months with the Astros last season, Clemens signed a minor-league contract so he can work his way into shape before competing against major leaguers.
"Make no mistake about it, the Yankees were in both my ears the whole time," Clemens, 44, said at his New York press conference.
Clemens' signing re-unites him with his good friend Andy "I'm an effing jerk for going back to the Yankees" Pettitte, who left the Astros via free agency on Dec. 22 to return to the Yankees.
McLane had courted the 11-time All-Star incessantly in the previous three years, luring him out of his first retirement promise after his 2003 season with the Yankees and then again for another season in 2005 and again for a three-month tour in 2006.
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