Report: Clemens on verge of Astros return

Published Jan. 8, 2013 10:37 a.m. ET

foxsports

Roger Clemens is expected to return to the Houston Astros, but definitely not as a player this time.

Clemens, 50, who briefly played for the Sugar Land Skeeters last summer and indicated he was interested in a return to the big leagues, is on the verge of joining the Astros as something of a pitching mentor, the Houston Chronicle reported.

"We've got the whole calendar mapped out and we're going to sort of figure out what makes sense," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow told the Chronicle Monday. "But the idea is to plug him in in spring training, plug him in throughout the season, and just have him get a lot more involved with our pitchers."

Clemens already had a personal services contract with the Astros, but hasn't been actively involved with the organization in almost six years.

The seven-time Cy Young winner, of course, had bigger concerns. He was part of a government investigation into performance-enhancing drug use in Major League Baseball and eventually was tried for perjury. He was acquitted last summer, at which point he made his return to baseball.

The Astros could use any help they can get. They've lost 213 games the last two years combined.