The Red Sox had their chance to preempt Roger Clemens's announcement that he had agreed to pitch for the Yankees again. Clemens's agent, Randy Hendricks, was in Boston last week for meetings with Sox brass and had dinner in John W. Henry's box Wednesday night when the Sox made their bid for the Rocket. It was for a prorated $18 million, more than $10 million less than the prorated $28 million Clemens agreed to take from the Yankees. Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, according to club sources, thought Clemens was still days from making a decision -- Lucchino believed this Thursday was the operative date -- leaving the Sox time to tweak their offer if they chose.
