Veteran ace Roger Clemens continues to flirt with Boston about a possible return to the mound, but he has other suitors as well.

01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, April 4, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the first time in a decade, Roger Clemens visited the Red Sox clubhouse yesterday. Whether he returns later this season to put on a uniform is, for now, unclear.

Clemens stopped by the visitor's clubhouse at Ameriquest Field about 2 1/2 hours before the first pitch of the 2006 season. Accompanied by agent Randy Hendricks, Clemens sat in an office and was visited by a number of players, coaches and members of management.

Paying their respects were manager Terry Francona, owners John Henry and Tom Werner, general manager Theo Epstein, first base coach and onetime batterymate Bill Haselman, pitching coach Al Nipper, pitchers David Wells, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin, and DH David Ortiz.

On Sunday night, Clemens had dined with Wakefield

-- the lone active Red Sox player who was a teammate of Clemens -- and Nipper.

Clemens, who took part in the World Baseball Classic last month, is still debating whether to return for a 23rd season in the big leagues. He was not offered salary arbitration by the Houston Astros, the team for whom he pitched the last two seasons, and can't re-sign with them until May. 1. He can, however, sign at any time with any club, though yesterday he said he was weeks, if not months, away from making a final determination on his plans.

Officially, Clemens was on hand yesterday at the invitation of Texas owner Tom Hicks, who wanted Clemens to see the celebration for the University of Texas national championship football team that was part of the pre-game ceremony.

"I don't have any interest in playing right now, at all," said Clemens. "I'm probably going to kick back for a while. If I really think I can get out there and help (a team), I'll think about it."

The Red Sox are one of four teams with an expressed interest in signing Clemens. The Astros, Rangers and New York Yankees are the others.

"Obviously," said Clemens, who pitched for the Sox from 1984 through 1996, "Boston is one of those teams I have a fondness for. It's been a home for me."

The Sox paid a visit to Clemens at his Houston home over the winter, and brought along a specially commissioned DVD with highlights from his Red Sox career interspersed with remarks from fans who urged him to return to the Sox. The presentation brought Clemens' wife Debbie to tears.

"I can tell you," said Clemens, "my two little ones are warming up to that (idea)."

But the emotional tug won't matter much if Clemens can't get motivated once more.

"It has to do with my mindset," he said. "Do I want to do it again?"

Nipper made a sales pitch to Clemens on Sunday night, reminding the seven-time Cy Young Award winner he would join a rotation that already includes Curt Schilling, potential ace Josh Beckett and Wakefield.

"Believe me," said a smiling Clemens, "Nip ran over the scenario many times."

The notion of ending his career where it began and passing Cy Young for most career wins for a Red Sox pitcher appeals to the 43-year-old.

"I can't say that's something that wouldn't be something special, no doubt," acknowledged Clemens.

Hendricks said he has talked to the Red Sox, Yankees and Rangers while waiting to be able to speak with the Astros again.

"But there's really nothing to talk about until he makes a decision," Hendricks cautioned. "I would say all four teams have a keen interest.Every one of these teams make sense individually."

Hendricks said if Clemens chose to continue pitching, there would be a number of variables, including his family's wishes, geography and, of course, salary.

"It's a matter of pride for players," said Hendricks. "It's another number on the back of the baseball card of how he compares to other people. Why should Roger be the only guy who plays for cheap (money)?"

Hendricks emphasized that "there is no timetable," and added that the pitcher wanted to keep his options open.

"My experience has been that players miss (the game) when they retire," he said.

In theory, Hendricks said Clemens could wait until the All-Star break before making his decision and still impact the pennant race for the final 2 1/2 months.

Asked if it were still true, as he said during the World Baseball Classic, that he was leaning toward retirement, Clemens said: "Right now, where I'm at, yeah."

Keeping his client's options open, Hendricks later added: "Never say never."

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340