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Report: Yankees eyeing Clemens, Pettitte

Astros pitchers both filed for free agency Monday, once played in Bronx

Pettitte
Dave Einsel / AP
Andy Pettitte was 14-13 with a 4.20 ERA. The left-hander was bothered by a strained flexor muscle in the elbow on his pitching arm late in the season.
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msnbc.com news services
updated 1:06 p.m. ET Nov. 7, 2006

The New York Yankees are interested in the possibility of signing two of their former pitchers and current free agents Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday, citing an unidentified team source.

The Daily News said the Yankees have talked internally about going after Pettitte, who left the team after the 2003 season.

Agent Randy Hendricks, who along with his brother, Alan, represents both players, told the Daily News in an email, "We will listen to anyone who calls. Neither player has decided whether he will play next year."

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Houston Astros teammates Clemens and Pettitte filed for free agency Monday, still unsure whether they want to pitch next year.

Clemens said he planned to retire after the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons, but came back each time to sign with his hometown Houston Astros. Pettitte, Clemens’ close friend and Texas neighbor, had left the New York Yankees after the 2003 season to sign with the Astros.

Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, rejoined the Astros in June and went 7-6 with a 2.30 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 113 1-3 innings. The right-hander, who has 348 wins and 4,604 strikeouts, turns 45 on Aug. 4.

Pettitte was 14-13 with a 4.20 ERA. The left-hander was bothered by a strained flexor muscle in the elbow on his pitching arm late in the season.

"I know it's difficult maybe for people to understand," Pettitte told MLB.com last week. "I'm just not sure if I want to play, so I'm just trying to take some time back. Obviously, for me to feel that way, I have some serious burnout.

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"I know I'm young. I realize I'm young. Just right now, I don't know exactly what I want to do."

Minnesota pitcher Brad Radke, who is expected to retire, also filed Monday along with Texas pitcher Kip Wells, Pittsburgh outfielder Jeromy Burnitz and Philadelphia shortstop Alex S. Gonzalez, who was reinstated from the voluntary retired list.

A total of 169 players have filed for free agency since the World Series, and about 20 more potentially are eligible to file by Saturday’s deadline. Free agents can talk money with all teams starting Sunday.

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