A trade that would have sent six-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens back to Boston broke down when the Houston Astros demanded too much from the Red Sox, the Providence (R.I.) Journal reported Friday.

Also Friday, the New York Daily News said that the Astros put Clemens on waivers earlier this month, and he was claimed by the Red Sox. However, the Astros then pulled him off waivers.
The Astros and Red Sox spent Thursday talking about the a possible trade, but the Red Sox balked when minor-leaguers were demanded of them, the Journal said, citing a television report.

The Providence Journal said the Red Sox put a claim on Clemens presumably to prevent the Yankees, the next team up the line, from doing so.

Players can pulled from waivers only once, and the claiming team acquires the player on the second attempt.

Clemens pitched for the Red Sox in 1984-1996 and built his Hall of Fame career there.

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