Tony DeMarco

He’s 43 and hasn’t thrown a competitive pitch since the World Baseball Classic. But there isn’t a pitcher in the game — or out of it, for that matter — drawing more attention than Roger Clemens.

We’ve never seen anything like this before — Greatest Living Pitcher for hire a couple months into the season. But then again, unprecedented is nothing new for Clemens. Seven Cy Young Awards tell you that.

We don’t know when, where, or even if he will pitch again — although the ‘if’ appears to be disappearing. How can he possibly say no with a bidding war for his services just waiting to break out?

Clemens showed during the World Baseball Classic that he is healthy and has lost next to nothing. And sometime before the All-Star break — most likely next month — his 23rd major-league season will get off to a belated but much-ballyhooed start. This will be no farewell tour — not when as many as three division races could be affected by his decision. This could mean the difference in late-September and October — not to mention the record book.

The Houston Astros reportedly are willing to give Clemens at least $3 million a month whenever he returns. That would be less than the $18 million they paid him for all of last season, but the same on a prorated basis.

It is a nice initial offer, and it probably will go higher. Given the magnitude of Clemens’ success (31-12, 2.43 ERA) in his hometown the last two seasons, returning to the Astros is the easiest way to go for both sides, making Houston a slight favorite at this point to sign him.

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It would have been easier if the Astros had received the $15.6 million insurance claim on Jeff Bagwell, but it was denied and the club still is fighting that decision. Their payroll is about $93 million already, but this is a special exception, and given the Astros’ unexpectedly good 18-9 start without Clemens, it is reasonable to assume they will have a good chance at repeating as National League champions by adding him.

Projected No. 3 starter Brandon Backe is on the disabled list with sprained right elbow, leaving two so-far-successful rookies at the back of the rotation in Taylor Buchholz and Fernando Nieve. But the stretch run will be a different story, and we already know how dangerous the Astros can be with Clemens, Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte in a playoff series.

However, the issue of playing at home really is somewhat moot at this point. We’re only talking about as many as four months, including a couple of summer months where family members could be wherever he decides to pitch. And no matter what the Astros offer, the Red Sox, Yankees and Rangers appear willing to top it.

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The pull of Boston is to bring his career full circle, and break a tie at 192 with Cy Young for the club record in wins. Clemens remains in contact with Red Sox pitching coach Al Nipper, a friend and former teammate. With David Wells a question mark and Jonathan Papelbon excelling in the closer role, there is a need behind Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling, and Nipper has expressed optimism about Clemens’ return to where his career began.

But you know that since the Yankees tried to stop knuckleball-catching specialist Doug Mirabelli from San Diego to keep him from returning to the Red Sox this week, they certainly will stop at nothing to keep Clemens out of Boston for the second half. The Yankees also have had issues at the back of their rotation, although Jaret Wright is back after starting the season on the disabled list, and Carl Pavano is on a rehab assignment.                

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Of course, avoiding both Boston and New York will save Clemens the same treatment that Johnny Damon received in Fenway Park this week by the fans of whichever team he doesn’t pick.

The Rangers have to be considered the long shot, but Clemens has been sure to fit them into the mix. Working in their favor is the University of Texas ties between Clemens and Rangers owner Tom Hicks. Clemens visited the Rangers spring-training facility while in Arizona for the World Baseball Classic, and also was at the Rangers’ home opener in Arlington, against the Red Sox.

And at least for now, the Rangers are leading a very tight race in the American League West, where Oakland and Los Angeles are expected to be strong playoff contenders. The longer the Rangers stay on top, the better their chances for Clemens, who obviously wants another shot at a championship.

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But four months of starts — say 20-22 — also will give Clemens opportunity to add to his legendary numbers. At 341-172, he’s two wins from passing Tim Keefe for eighth on the all-time list, although Pud Galvin and Kid Nichols are out of reach at 361. Clemens could jump as many as three spots to seventh all-time in starts, and he could hold off Randy Johnson a bit longer at second all-time in strikeouts at 4,502 and counting.

All we can do is wait and watch. Mid-season acquisitions are made every year by contenders, but never one like this before.