Newsday: Clemens could return in ‘08 despite accusations

OH, MY GOODNESS GRAPE NUTS!

His superstar reputation badly damaged by baseball’s Mitchell Report, Roger Clemens doesn’t seem likely to turn into a recluse. Instead, two people familiar with Clemens’ thinking fully anticipate that he will pitch again in 2008.

“I really don’t think this would deter him from playing,” one person said, on the condition of anonymity. “He might think it would change the public opinion on him further. People would think, ‘Why would he come back and put up with all of this abuse if he did it?’”

...One person thought that the way Clemens left the mound would further motivate him to pitch again in 2008. Though the Yankees don’t have a great desire or need to bring back Clemens again, the Houston Astros—who employed Clemens from 2004 through 2006—could be interested.

Many friends of Clemens believe he wants to end his career where it began, with the Boston Red Sox. Were that to happen, Clemens would be a “teammate” of Mitchell, who is a Red Sox director. But the Red Sox have a surplus of starting pitchers.