Clemens Asks for $22 Million in Arbitration
Roger Clemens won his 7th Cy Young in 2004 while playing for well below market-value at $5 million a year. Now the Rocket has asked for an MLB record $22 million in arbitration. The Astros offered $13.5 million. I'm guessing if Roger wins he'll come back. I think he will win this case. Remember that there is no in-between in salary arbitration, so it's either $13.5 mil or $22 mil.

Do you blame Clemens for asking for $22 million? He deserves it. He was 18-4 with a 2.98 ERA while throwing 214 innings. Yes, he'll be 42 in 2005, but still, Roger Clemens at 42 is as good as any pitcher in Major League Baseball. I'm guessing if he wins he'll definitely be back in 2005. He has said that he isn't sure yet, but I'm guessing whatever thought is going through his mind will change once the arbitrator says he has won his case...

arbitrator: Roger Clemens has won his...
Clemens: (Interrupting) I'm in. See you guys at Spring Training.

I still don't think the Astros are going to be good enough to win the NL Central. They lost Beltran, Kent, Wade Miller and possibly Clemens. Lance Berkman blew up his knee in the offseason, so who knows how that will affect his production.