Roger Clemens wouldn’t rule out a 2013 comeback, though he said he’s “retired right now.” (Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

Pitcher Roger Clemens is “retired right now” but would not eliminate the possibility of a comeback with the Houston Astros next season, The Houston Chronicle’s Zachary Levine reported Saturday.

“I might be going again here in February or something like that,” Clemens said Saturday at an event honoring former Astros’ stars. “I’ll be throwing. I don’t think it’s going to be competitive, but you guys know with me, I’m never going to shut the door on anything. Who knows what might happen.

“We had this (Skeeters) opportunity come up, but I’m not getting any younger and it’s not getting any easier.”

The 50-year-old Clemens has pitched two games this season for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League, hurling eight scoreless innings. In his first appearance, he impressed, with a fastball topping out in the upper-80s.

Earlier this month, Astros owner Jim Crane didn’t rule out the possibility of Clemens pitching for the major league team this season, but Clemens flatly ruled that out the same day.

“Why would I want to waste my time running around and getting in shape?” he told Houston television station KRIV, according to The Associated Press. “I get over to Minute Maid (Park), I’ll crank it up and get it over 90 for a contender. We’ll knock them right out of the playoffs. That would be the fun. Pitching against somebody that’s not in contention wouldn’t be any fun for me.”

“It’s not going to happen.”

UPDATE, 11:10 p.m.: Roger Clemens told Fox 26 in Houston that he will not pitch for the Houston Astros in 2012. 

“I can tell you right now and they would know too, that if I was going to go do it, I am going to pitch against a contender, that’s who I want to knock out,” Clemens said.

“Why would I want to waste my time running around and getting in shape. I get over to Minute Maid (Park), I’ll crank it up and get it over 90 for a contender. We’ll knock them right out of the playoffs. That would be the fun. Pitching against somebody that’s not in contention wouldn’t be any fun for me.

Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow had said Monday that the team does not expect to start Clemens this season, MLB.com beat writer Brian McTaggart reported via Twitter. But owner owner Jim Crane said there was still a possibility.

Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said team has planned rotation through rest of season and doesn’t include Clemens, who’s not expected to play in ’12

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 10, 2012

The 50-year-old Clemens made headlines recently when he announced a comeback to play for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League. He impressed in his first start with the Skeeters, touching 88 mph on the radar gun.

But he admitted after another good start last Friday that he probably wouldn’t see the majors this season. He left open, however, a door for the future.

“At this point I don’t see that happening, because I just know my recovery time right now,” he said regarding pitching for Houston this season. “And I think I’ve pushed my body and shoulder to where it needs to be.”

“I would have to get ready,” Clemens added. “It would be fun. There’s no reason why I couldn’t do it next year.”

The comment came with the usual caveat, so take it with a grain of salt. But after another successful outing — 4 2/3 innings of two-hit, scoreless ball — on Friday for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters, Roger Clemens was asked on ESPN if he plans to pitch again this season. (C. Trent Rosecrans of CBSSports.com has the transcript.)

“Not this year,” Clemens told ESPN, before adding: “I’m not going to rule anything out.”

Asked what he would say if Houston Astros owner Jim Crane called and asked him to join the Astros this month, Clemens said, “I’d listen, but I have to do some work again. I don’t think I’m close to pitching in a major league game.”

Clemens also said, “I hope to end up in February [in spring training] with the Astros and help those kids. That’s probably next.”

Roger Clemens cast doubt on an MLB comeback in 2012. (Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

Roger Clemens tried to set aside speculation today that his recent return to minor league baseball is a warmup for a return to the majors.

“I don’t see it happening,” Clemens told Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun prior to a throwing session before the Sugar Land Skeeters game at York, Pa.

Clemens, who returned to baseball for the first time in five years on Aug. 25, is scheduled to make his second start on Friday. He was encouraged by his 3 1/3 innings of one-hit, shutout ball and his arm’s recovery.

Clemens’ home in Houston and a personal services contract with the Astros fueled speculation that he might work toward a major league mound appearance before the end of the 2012 season. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow was impressed with Clemens’ first Skeeters’ outing.
While Clemens has not said “yes” or “no” to an Astros return, today’s comments were the first to put a negative spin on a complete comeback.

“I’m winging it,” Clemens told the York Dispatch. “I don’t have a plan beyond Friday.”

I don’t see it happening. Everybody is speculating and everybody’s got their own opinions, and that’s great. But it is still a lot of work. When I started warming up, playing a little lawn catch, I knew it was gonna be a little more work than I wanted.

Clemens will become eligible for the next round of Baseball Hall of Fame voting after the 2012 season. Returning to the Astros or any MLB team could postpone his eligibility another five years — when HOF voters might be more willing to look past the Mitchell Report linking him to steroids use.

The Houston Astros plan on watching Roger Clemens next minor-league start. (Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

The Houston Astros plan on having a scout watch Roger Clemens’ next minor-league start on Sept. 7 fueling speculation that a return to the major leagues is possible, reports CBSSports.com. 

The strong speculation in baseball has been that if all goes reasonably well that night, Clemens will then pitch for the Astros five days later, on Sept. 12 against the Chicago Cubs.

Clemens would be on the Hall of Fame ballot in December but that would be put on hold another five years if he returns to the Astros. He pitched 3.1 scoreless innings for the independent-league Sugar Land Skeeters on Aug. 25.

After his successful outing (3 1/3 innings, one hit, no runs) last Saturday for the Sugar Land Skeeters, Roger Clemens remained noncommittal about extending his comeback. Now he apparently has decided to take the mound again.

In a text to FOX 26 Roger Clemens says: "It looks like we will give the Skeeters the okay to announce that I will start again on Sept. 8."—
Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) August 29, 2012

Why two weeks off between starts? The Skeeters are on the road for the next week, returning to Texas on Sept. 7.

If Clemens has another strong showing, there would still be three weeks or so left in the major league regular season for him to pitch for a big league team.

Former pitcher Roger Clemens says he hasn’t had any discussions to pitch again. (Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

Retired pitcher Roger Clemens doesn’t plan on pitching anytime soon, he told the Houston Chronicle on Tuesday.

“Not at this point,” Clemens said when asked if he was going to pitch again. “That could change in a couple days, but right now we haven’t talked to any of the guys or anything like that. This is good for it, good exercise. We’ll do a little cardio and try to get some more of that soreness out. It’s good soreness though. We came out of it all right and everybody had a good time, so that was the key.”

Clemens pitched on Saturday for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Independent Atlantic League, allowing one hit against the Bridgeport Bluefish, striking out two without a walk while throwing 37 pitches. His fastball was clocked at 88 MPH.

Roger Clemens pitched well in his minor-league comeback. (Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

Roger Clemens’ impressive outing with the Sugar Land Skeeters did not go unnoticed by the hometown Major League club.

Scouts from the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals were on hand to watch Clemens pitch 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the Skeeters in independent Atlantic League action.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow shared his thoughts of the outing with Zachar Levine of the Houston Chronicle.

“He looked good,” Luhnow said. “He certainly can compete at that independent ball level. We’ll see how he feels after doing that yesterday, but he certainly is impressive given the fact that he hasn’t pitched in so many years and with his age.”

There is no definite next move. Owner Jim Crane has repeatedly laid out his openness to bringing the seven-time Cy Young winner and controversial figure back to the Astros, but Luhnow hasn’t spoken with Clemens.

“I don’t know what he intends to do,” Luhnow said. “I think a lot of that will have to do with how he feels after (Saturday). Recovery time is probably a little different for somebody who hasn’t pitched in so long.

The Royals, on the other hand, aren’t so hot on Clemens. GM Dayton Moore told MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel that senior pitching staff advisor Bill Fisher and scout Ron Toenjes were on hand because Fisher is an old friend of Clemens.

“He wasn’t sent there to scout the game. He was sent there to be along with Fish, and that’s all,” Moore said.

Moore pointed out that Fischer was Clemens’ pitching coach early in his Major League career with Boston (1985-1991) and that the pitcher invited him to come down and be part of his return. Fischer sat with Clemens in the dugout.

“Fish called me last night to say thanks for allowing him to go down there and what a great time it was,” Moore said. “I don’t even know how Roger threw, I didn’t even ask him about that.”

It was the 50-year-old’s first professional start since the 2007 season. He told reporters that he will wait to see how he feels a few days before deciding if he’ll pitch again.

Some baseball observers believe Clemens’ return could lead to a major league comeback — likely with the Astros — that would delay his eligibility for Hall of Fame consideration. It is widely believed that Clemens would not be voted into the next HOF class after the Mitchell Report identified him as a steroids user. Clemens was acquitted of lying to Congress regarding his steroids testimony.

For those interested (and presumably enough are to warrant the following), John Ourand of Sports Business Journal tweets that an ESPN network will televise Roger Clemens’ start on Saturday for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters.

ESPN will carry Roger Clemens' debut with the Sugar Land Skeeters Saturday night, 7:05pm CT. It will be on ESPN3 and ESPN Classic.—
John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) August 25, 2012

Longhorn Network's Kevin Dunn will do play-by-play for Clemens' Skeeters debut on ESPN3 and ESPN Classic. Danny Graves will be the analyst.—
John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) August 25, 2012

Clemens, 50, says he has been throwing about 87 mph in workouts, and the presumption is that this is the first step in a comeback attempt rather than purely a publicity stunt.

“I’m nowhere close to being ready for Major League Baseball,” Clemens told SI.com’s Mel Antonen. “I’m been running and working out, but there’s a big difference between that and getting ready to pitch in a big-league game. … I have retired and un-retired a number of times, so I know what it takes.”

Even if he doesn’t think he’s close, if Clemens performs well in a couple of outings, it could lead to a September contract with his hometown Houston Astros.

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane said the franchise would consider signing Roger Clemens if he pitches well for the Sugar Land Skeeters, reports FOX 26 in Houston.

The 50-year-old Clemens will pitch Saturday for the Skeeters, an independent team based in Texas. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner’s agent said they were unsure whether it would be a one-time start, or if Clemens would keep pitching after the start.

The Astros’ amateur scouting director watched Clemens work out. Since Clemens reportedly hit the high 80s with his fastball, some have speculated that Houston could bring Clemens in for September to try to boost attendance.

“If it goes alright and he comes to us, we’ll talk to baseball about it at length,” Crane told FOX 26. “The only thing we don’t want to do is make it a publicity stunt.

“If we did it, I want to try and take it and turn it into a positive, which would be Roger’s doing it for the good of baseball. The extra proceeds on the game might go to the (Astros’) community charity deal to build (baseball) fields, do something positive out of it.

“I think the fans might like it. It might be fun and certainly get a few people in the ballpark. I don’t see anything negative about that, but the Astros wouldn’t want to do it for the money, the extra gate or anything like that.”

Roger Clemens, 50, will pitch for the Sugar Land Skeeters this Saturday. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, now 50 years old, will pitch Saturday night for the Sugar Land Skeeters, a Texas-based team in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, the team announced in a press release.

Clemens, who in June was found not guilty of charges that he lied to Congress in connection to its probe into steroid use in baseball, last played in 2007.

But FOX 26 of Houston reports Clemens was throwing in the high 80s during his workout for the Skeeters. It’s unclear whether he will keep pitching for the team, or if this will be a one-time appearance, reports USA TODAY.

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal also reported that the Houston Astros’ amateur scouting director watched Clemens throw on Monday.

“It is at this point a fun, local, one-time kind of thing,” Clemens’ agent Randy Hendricks wrote in an email to USA TODAY‘s Paul White. “If he does well, he will probably make at least one more home start. He threw 87 mph today with four pitches working, so he looks good to go at this point.”

Former player Rafael Palmeiro said he would vote for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens for the Hall of Fame. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Former MLB player Rafael Palmeiro said other retired players Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens should be in the Hall of Fame.

You’re talking about, in my opinion, probably the best pitcher of all-time and the greatest player of all time,” Palmeiro told ESPNDallas.com. “Keep them out and then the Hall of Fame has no credibility.”

Palmeiro was suspended 10 games by Major League Baseball in 2005 after testing positive for an anabolic steroid. Clemens and Bonds have never tested positive for steroids.

Palmeiro received 11 percent of the ballots in his first attempt to get into the Hall of Fame in 2011 and 12.6 percent in 2012. Election to the Hall needs a 75 percent vote from members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Palmeiro, who finished his career with 569 home runs and 3,020 hits, said he’s proud of his career even if he never gets into the Hall.

“I put that behind me already,” Palmeiro said. “I know what kind of career I had. I’m good with it. I can look at myself in the mirror and feel good and proud of what I accomplished. The Hall of Fame would be icing on the cake, but if it doesn’t happen, I’m fine with it. I will accept that and move on and live with it.”

The Houston Astros would like former pitcher Roger Clemens to help the team in a player development role. (Saul Loeb/Getty Images)

Former pitcher Roger Clemens’ legal troubles are a thing of the past. His former team, the Houston Astros would like for him to come back to help their team with the younger players, according to MLB.com.

“It’s great to have former players, who’ve had a great deal of success in the Major League level, involved in the organization,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “Everybody has a certain level of expertise, and in Roger’s case, a lot of what we’re trying to teach the pitchers, with respect to the delivery, the approach to the game and the work ethic, he’s excelled at all that.”

“There’s no question every Minor League affiliate would love to have Roger Clemens come and visit and talk to the pitchers, and the pitchers in the big leagues would love to talk to him,” Luhnow said. “We just have to see how much time he has available to dedicate to this and what area he’ll be best served. We’ll work it out, I’m sure.”

The jury reached a verdict Monday in the perjury trial of Roger Clemens. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former pitcher Roger Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, was found not guilty Monday on all six counts stemming from his testimony in a probe into steroid use in baseball, according to reports.

Clemens, 49, faced six total charges: one count of obstruction of Congress, three counts of making a false statement and two counts of perjury. He plead not guilty.

The trial focused on Clemens’ testimony before Congress in 2008, when he denied using steroids or human growth hormone. The prosecution contended that he lied in this testimony.

Clemens faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine if convicted on all six counts. Under sentencing guidelines, however, he would likely have only received between 15 and 21 months in prison.

The trial featured 46 witnesses over 26 days of proceedings, including New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte.

Clemens’ former trainer Brian McNamee was the key witness for the prosecution and spent more than a week on the stand. McNamee alleged that he had injected Clemens with steroids during 1998, 2000 and 2001. He also claimed to have injected the pitcher with HGH in 2000.

McNamee produced evidence that he said was the needle he used in a steroid injection in 2001. The waste was shown to have both Clemens’ DNA and steroids on it.

Clemens’ lawyers attacked McNamee’s credibility and showed ways in which his story had changed over time. Clemens’ wife, Debbie Clemens, also testified that she had McNamee inject her with HGH.

This was the government’s second attempt at convicting Clemens. A mistrial was declared last spring in Clemens’ first trial when the prosecution showed inadmissible evidence to the jury.

Former MLB player David Segui can be called to testify in the Clemens steroids trial. (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)

Former Major League player David Segui can be called to testify about conversations he had with Roger Clemens’ former trainer, a judge in the perjury case ruled late Thursday.

Clemens is being accused of lying to Congress when he testified he has never used performance-enhancing drugs.

Segui, who played for eight teams before retiring in 2004, is being sought regarding a conversation with former Clemens trainer Brian McNamee says he had with Segui about saving “darts” or needles from injections he gave players.

Procecutors also hope a client of McNamee’s, Anthony Corso, can help refute defense allegations that McNamee lied about evidence he had against Clemens to avoid his own prosecution after federal authorities talked with him in 2007.

Last week, McNamee testified that he injected Clemens with HGH in 2000 and with steroids in 1998, 2000 and 2001.

U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton told the attorneys in the Roger Clemens trial today to speed up the pace, according to MLB.com.

“If you’re not observing (the jury), you need to watch them. These folks are fed up,” Walton said.

“I also have an obligation to conserve the court’s time, and also to make sure that these citizens are not having their time wasted. I see that happening,” Walton said.

Walton has reportedly indicated several times that the trial, now in its 12^th day, is moving too slowly.

Clemens is currently on trial for six federal charges of perjury. The former Cy Young award winner is accused of giving false statements to a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in 2008 when he claimed that he had never used performance enhancing drugs.

Andy Pettitte has arrived in a Washington D.C. federal courtroom today and is expected to testify in the Roger Clemens perjury case, according to T.J. Quinn of ESPN.

Andy Pettite has just arrived in the federal building. He is expected to testify this afternoon. Surprise timing. #Clemens

— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) May 1, 2012

Pettitte, a longtime friend and teammate of Roger Clemens, had previously been expected to testify after their former trainer, Brian McNamee.

Clemens is currently on trial for lying under oath about his use of performance enhancing drugs. Pettitte is testifying at the request of federal prosecutors who have asked him to speak about his own use of human growth hormone with the assistance of McNamee.

The lawyers will also cite former Sen. George Mitchell’s investigation that found more than 80 major league players, including Pettitte and Clemens, illegally using performance-enhancing drugs.

The lawyers planning to prosecute Roger Clemens in his perjury trial want Andy Pettitte to testify in the case against him, the Associated Press reports.

The federal prosecutors spelled out their plans today for Pettitte to testify about his own use of human growth hormone with the assistance of Brian McNamee, Clemens’ longtime trainer and chief accuser.

The lawyers will also cite former Sen. George Mitchell’s investigation that found more than 80 major league players illegally using performance-enhancing drugs.

Clemens, 49, has been out of major league baseball since September 2007. Pettitte, 39, retired in 2010 but came out of retirement last week to rejoin the New York Yankees.

Jury selection in the Clemens perjury trial begins April 16.

Roger Clemens has been largely avoiding public attention for the last couple years, as a steroid scandal and a long criminal investigation have smeared his reputation, perhaps permanently. But the retired hurler made an appearance Saturday at the University of Texas alumni game, and he even sat down for a TV interview to discuss his chances of making the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“It would be an honor,” Clemens said of his potential induction. “But I have no control over it. The other guys vote, and you just have to go through the process there. If it happens, it’s great, but it won’t change my life. I’m not going to go around shaking people’s hands and telling them I’m a Hall of Famer. That’s not who I am as a person. But it would be fantastic.”

Clemens will be on the ballot to make the Hall in 2013, along with other stars like Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa who contributed to the controversy of the Steroid Era.

The odds don’t look good for Clemens and others of his ilk — out of the required 75 percent of the voting necessary for induction, Mark McGwire garnered just 19.5 percent in 2012, and Rafael Palmeiro only 12.6.

Clemens was an 11-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion during his 24-year career. He compiled 354 wins, 4,672 strikeouts and a career ERA of 3.12 before walking away from the game in 2007.