THE ROCKET

by TexasHeat on Jul 18, 2006 5:15 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

I'm wondering how much each of you would pay for 10 weeks or so of Roger (the rocket) Clemens? If you were your favorite teams' Genral Manager what would you give for him? I'm talking about best possible offer, no haggleing, no back and forth.
Should be interesting.
filler, filler, filler, filler, filler, filler

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by eswanson55 on Jul 18, 2006 5:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Had you asked

Back when the clemens race was in the news every day I would have said he's not worth whatever he gets. I thought he was a bit overrated because he rarely pitches deep into the games anymore and who knew what he was going to have left at this point in his career. An average of about 6 innings per start and an ERA around 3 is about what I expected but it looks like Clemens might do a little bit better than that.

BUT - the amazing thing about him is how his presence has changed the other pitchers on the Astros staff...since July 1 (because I can't find any data from the exact date when Clemens was called up):
Pettitte
2-0 20IP 21K 1.8ERA
Oswalt
0-2 16.3IP 11K 1.65ERA
Buchholz
2-1 18IP 16K 3.00ERA

In July the Astros have a team ERA of 3.33 which is well over a full run below the second best NL team (Cubs-4.54) and over a full run below there team ERA.

Now I know that there is some correlation means causation in this argument, but it is undeniable that the Astros have pitched much better since Clemens has been there. Whether that can be attributed to Clemens, the other pitchers, or the coaching staff is debatable. But, it sure seems to me like adding Clemens is like adding a front-line starter AND a pitching coach. So, I think he's worth quite a bit. You ask what is he worth for ten weeks...well A-Rod makes about 20 million a year, so if for ten weeks Clemens was worth A-Rod money - I think that would give him $9 million. So that's what I'd say, $9 million for ten weeks.

by Dfarth on Jul 18, 2006 5:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Players

I'm pretty sure he wants to know what PLAYERS you'd give up to get Clemens.

My answer...probably a "B" level prospect at most, no more than that, especially since you'd have to pay his salary too, and there isn't much future value you could expect to gain after this year.

by BaseballBrain on Jul 18, 2006 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ahh

Well who the heck knows lol...I'd give up Justin Huber...

In all seriousness I (and most people here) are so youth oriented that I wouldn't want to give up a big time prospect...Maybe Jacob Ellsbury from the Red Sox...

by Dfarth on Jul 18, 2006 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depends on what the 'Stros will chip in...

I am assuming you mean in a deadline trade - 10 weeks in August and September.

It would have to be some sliding scale of prospect quality vs contract $ taken on.

by cooper7d7 on Jul 18, 2006 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Money

If you expect the Astros to give any salary relief, I don't think you get him (not that he'll be traded anyway, but to stay on this vein). Due to the extra crowds that come to see Clemens, Houston would lose less money keeping him on the team and getting the added gate receipts from his games than from giving someone else some salary relief to take him, no matter how good the prospect in return.

by MontrealMets on Jul 18, 2006 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If they are out of contention...

they might take such a bath on his nonpitching days that it would 'pay' to get some of his salary off the books, maybe.

by cooper7d7 on Jul 18, 2006 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Braun

I gave up Braun last week for Clemens in my Roto league. I overpaid, but I'm in the lead and have a good shot at winning. I know it's not the real world, but I wonder if a team in the majors would give up a player as good as Braun (B+ prospect)?

by rcobeen on Jul 18, 2006 6:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL

you guys are rookie mad.

In the majors they would pay his contract and give up a grade A prospect. Easy.

Do you think the Yankees would turn down Hughes? Maybe. But if they heard the Red Sox would get Rocket and probably ensure they miss the playoffs they would deal Hughes in a New York minute.

Prospects are great. Winning is better.

by pedrophile on Jul 18, 2006 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They probably would

Someone probably would, that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. I mean, sure, if having Clemens GUARANTEES that you'd win, you'd definitely give up a grade A prospect, but in reality it only would increase your chances of winning the whole enchilada by maybe 5%.

by BaseballBrain on Jul 19, 2006 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know...

Given how beat up the Yanks are, with no guarantee of having a healthy team again in October, I bet they'd hold onto Hughes. Might they give him up for Dontrelle? Sure. But not for a guy who has pretty much guaranteed that this will be his last season. This is Cashman's team now, and he has autonomy.

Just as my Mets have learned not to compete with the Yanks for the back pages, I think the Yanks have learned that they just need to do their thing and leave the worrying to the Red Sox Nation.

by MontrealMets on Jul 19, 2006 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs