Free agents: Clemens files; Thome visits Phillies; Glavine draws interest
NEW YORK (AP) – Roger Clemens filed for free agency Thursday, testing the market while still hoping to re-sign with the New York Yankees. The only six-time Cy Young Award winner is coming off a $30.9 million, two-year contract. He has said his first choice is to stay with the Yankees, where he won World Series rings in 1999 and 2000. Clemens is 60-27 in four seasons with New York.
Clemens, a 40-year-old right-hander, needs seven wins to reach 300 for his career. He was 13-6 with a 4.35 ERA and 192 strikeouts this year, limited to 29 starts because of injuries, and the Yankees don’t think any team will offer $10 million or more for a one-year deal.
New York and Clemens’ agent, Randy Hendricks, have had several discussions but talks haven’t progressed.
“All things being equal, his preference is to return to the Yankees,” Hendricks said.
San Francisco outfielder Tom Goodwin also filed Thursday, raising the free-agent total to 152, with 18 more players potentially eligible to file by Monday’s deadline. Free agents can start talking contract with all teams starting Tuesday.
Seattle designated hitter Edgar Martinez and pitcher Shigetoshi Hasegawa took themselves off the market, agreeing to one-year contracts with the Mariners, who had declined their 2003 options.
Martinez gets about $4 million – plus a $1 million buyout from his previous contract, which had contained a $10 million option. Hasegawa, whose previous deal had a $2 million option with a $100,000 buyout, got a contract for about $1.8 million.
Martinez turns 40 in January and wants to spend his entire career with the Mariners. He likely will retire after next season.
“I think it’s a high percentage. Let’s put it that way,” he said. “I won’t say 100 percent because there’s always the possibility that I’ll feel so good and have a great year. I want to leave that window open.”
Jim Thome, the best hitter on the free-agent market, toured Philadelphia on Thursday. Thome, who has spent his entire career with Cleveland, walked into Philadelphia’s clubhouse and saw a Phillies jersey with his name and No. 25 hanging in one of the lockers.
Phillies general manager Ed Wade said he will offer a contract on Tuesday to Thome, who hit an Indians-record 52 homers this season.
“It’s going to be a long process,” Thome said. “We’re going to look at a lot of different angles. Everybody knows my ties in Cleveland, but I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t interested.”
Tom Glavine met with the Phillies on Wednesday, and the pitcher’s agent said Thursday that he’s also heard from the New York Mets, Yankees and Texas.