Baseball: Pitcher takes record $32m salary claim to arbitration

NEW YORK - Pitcher Roger Clemens filed for a record US$22 million ($32 million) salary arbitration yesterday, while the Houston Astros countered with a US$13.5 million offer for the seven-time Cy Young award winner.

The previous highest amount submitted for arbitration was US$18.5 million by shortstop Derek Jeter, who later agreed to a 10-year US$189 million deal with the New York Yankees.

If Clemens wins his arbitration case he will become the highest-paid pitcher in Major League, topping the US$17.5 million paid by the Boston Red Sox to Pedro Martinez last year.

Arbitration hearings are scheduled to begin on January 31, when a panel will decide between the figure submitted by the player or his team.

The 42-year-old Clemens earned US$5 million last season and an additional US$1.8 million in incentives and bonuses.

One of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history, Clemens retired from the New York Yankees at the end of the 2003 season only to change his mind and join the Astros.

The big righthander enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career, collecting 18 wins and a seventh Cy Young as Houston came within one game of reaching their first World Series.

His 218 strikeouts boosted his career total to 4317, moving him into second on the all-time list behind Nolan Ryan with 5714.

- REUTERS