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Yankees manager Joe Torre doesn't think Roger Clemens will come out of retirement to pitch for the Houston Astros.
Clemens said all year he intended to retire after the 2003 season, his 20th in the major leagues.
Following the decision
by close friend and former Yankees teammate Andy Pettitte to sign with Houston
last week, Clemens said he considers himself retired but will think over whether
to sign with the Astros.
``It seems like a natural thing. Sort of reminds you of Warren Spahn, pitch
every Sunday,'' Torre said Wednesday.
Clemens, 41, went 17-9 with a 3.91 ERA last season for the Yankees. The six-time Cy Young Award winner has 310 wins, 17th on the career list, and needs 38 strikeouts to move into second place ahead of Steve Carlton, who has 4,136.
``I'm doubtful that he'll be back,'' Torre said. ``I think he was ready to do it.''
While Clemens lives in the Houston area, he'd still have to make road trips at times.
``Even though it's not New York, he's still going to be away a lot,'' Torre said. ``But again, that's his decision. He certainly could come back and pitch, and pitch effectively. I don't think there's any doubt in anybody's mind after winning that many games last year. But I don't think he's going to do that.''