Even at 40 years old, Roger Clemens still can push speed guns into the mid-90s with his fastball. But when it comes to getting a one-year deal hammered out with the Yankees, you could use a sundial to measure the progress.
However, there is progress, which indicates the righty will return next season and chase 300 wins in pinstripes.
“I talked to the Yankees and we are narrowing down our differences,” agent Randy Hendricks 9said. “I remain optimistic.”
A team source said, “We are inching along with creative structuring.”
That translates into performance bonuses that would give Clemens the chance to make more than the $8 million base the Yankees are offering to a pitcher who made $15 million last year and is wanted back by George Steinbrenner and Joe Torre.
The sides have until Jan. 8 to get a deal done, and a Yankees source said Clemens’ situation isn’t tied to the team’s chase of free agent Jose Contreras. So, it’s not out of the question the Yankees could land both, even though they then would have a bevy of starters.
SHANE WON’T BE BACK
Shane Spencer’s up and down Yankees career ended yesterday when the outfielder wasn’t tendered a contract. Spencer, who made $885,000 last year, has been in the organization since 1990. For a variety of reasons – mostly injuries – he never was an everyday player for a whole season. His best year was 1998 when he hit .373 with 10 homers and 27 RBIs in 27 games. Eight of those homers were in September. The Yankees also didn’t tender pitcher Christian Parker, who started one game in 2001 and was on the DL since with shoulder trouble.
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