CINCINNATI (AP)
-- The Houston Astros, eligible to re-sign Roger Clemens again starting Monday, plan to contact the agents for the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.
"This opens up a window of opportunity for us," general manager Tim Purpura said Sunday from Houston. "We have said that we are interested in getting Roger back. We would love to have him be a part of our team."
Clemens spent the last two seasons with his hometown Astros, winning the NL Cy Young Award in 2004 and the major league ERA title last year. He pitched for the United States in the World Baseball Classic in March and though he considers himself retired, he hasn't ruled out returning.
Houston, Boston, the New York Yankees and Texas are interested in signing the 43-year-old right-hander.
"We'd like to have him back, but he's not a factor in our ballclub," Astros manager Phil Garner said before Sunday's game against Cincinnati. "We planned our ballclub without Rocket. He told us in the winter that he shouldn't be a factor. We're not waiting for him. We're not holding back."
Under baseball's rules, teams can re-sign their former players who became free agents only through Dec. 7 (or Jan. 8 if offered salary arbitration), or starting May 1.
Clemens is tied for eighth on the wins list with 341 and second in strikeouts with 4,502.