The New York Yankees don't plan on pulling the plug on the Roger Clemens experiment even though the right-hander is battling a groin problem and the team is struggling so badly, MLB.com reported Monday.

The Yankees don't owe Clemens any money on his prorated $28 million contract yet because he hasn't pitched in a Major League game yet.

But general manager Brian Cashman rejected any notion that the team would change its mind about bringing on Clemens, MLB.com reported.

"I want to have a healthy Roger Clemens, when he's ready, to assist this team because we still have a shot," Cashman said, MLB.com reported. "We're in this thing, we're not out of it. He can make an impact for us."

The Yankees, who trailed the Boston Red Sox by 5 1/2 games in the AL East when they signed Clemens, are now 12 1/2 games out.

Cashman did leave himself an out, saying Clemens was "no different than anyone else on a minor-league contract -- there's no guarantees," the Bergen (N.J.) Record reported Monday.

Clemens will have tests on his ailing groin Monday, and the Yankees hope he can make his first start of the season next weekend.

New York manager Joe Torre said Sunday that Clemens could pitch Saturday against Pittsburgh, five days after he was originally slated to return to the struggling Yankees before being scratched because of a fatigued right groin.

“We’re tentatively looking at possibly next weekend,” Torre said. “The only thing I know is he’s going to have an MRI (on Monday) and we’ll have more information. They’ll see if whatever he’s dealing with is old or new.”

Matt DeSalvo was scheduled to come up from the minors and start in Clemens’ place Monday night at the Chicago White Sox. Kei Igawa, who had been another option, pitched in a Triple-A game Sunday for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Torre said Igawa pitched well, but Scranton pitching coach Dave Eiland said the left-hander needs another minor league outing.

The MRI won’t be the only factor that determines whether Clemens pitches on Saturday.

“He’s going to be the one that has to feel (ready),” Torre said. “We certainly don’t want him to say, ‘Well, I can pitch with this.’

“It’s too important that he goes out there every five days or so (rather than) have one start and then maybe the next start you don’t have him. So we want to make sure this gets well.”

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Clemens, 44, probably would provide an emotional lift when he returns, though Torre isn’t focused on that.

“We’ve had a habit of never counting our chickens until they show up,” he said, “so we really never got to the point of feeling he was here.”

Clemens had three minor league tuneup starts, the most recent last Monday when he gave up two hits and struck out six in six scoreless innings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner felt pain in his groin during that outing.

Cashman said it was possible Clemens’ next appearance would be in the minors.

“I would not rule anything out,” he said.

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