Roger's Return

The New York Yankees announced today that they had pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros, acquiring centerfielder Carlos Beltran and right-handed pitcher Roger Clemens for centerfielder Kenny Lofton, left-handed pitcher Alex Graman and prospects Robinson Cano and Dioner Navarro. The Astros recently acquired the services of Beltran but realizing that he will be a free agent after the season and that they have little if any chance of making the playoffs, Astros owner Drayton McLain Jr. was more than happy to let Beltran go to New York where he will be the starting centerfielder.

Clemens, who retired at the end of last season, agreed to return to New York where he will finish his career as he has done before. The former Red Sox, Blue Jay, and Yankee expressed regret at once again leaving his wife and kids, this time only for a few months, but it was pointed out that with the Yankees he will travel with his teammates, something he did not do with the Astros.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner told the media that he was ecstatic that Clemens would once again wear Yankees pinstripes and that he hoped Clemens last game as a Yankee would be a win this time around. The Boss expressed his fondness for Bernie Williams, who has not done the job in centerfield this season. Steinbrenner said that Bernie deserves to end his career with the Yankees and listening to how he spoke, one got the impression that he hoped it would be soon.

Lofton was a part-time centerfielder and designated hitter with the Yankees. He shared centerfield with Bernie Williams and neither performed well, especially defensively. Lofton's fate was sealed in a game against Tampa a few weeks ago when he and left fielder Hideki Matsui allowed a fly ball to drop between them, costing the Yankees two runs and probably the game. Ironically, it was the same game that sealed Graman's fate when he gave up five runs in one third of an inning.

Cano and Navarro are decent prospects who are probably overrated but the Astros wanted to dump salary and were willing to make the trade. When Andy Pettitte and Clemens joined the Astros pitching staff, which includes Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller, they became favorites to win the National League Central Division but injuries, poor performances, and a surprising Cardinals team prevented that from happening. The Yankees will pick up the remained of Clemens' almost $5 million 2004 salary.

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