Red Sox would be more than happy to sign Clemens

If Roger Clemens decides to pitch again, the Boston Red Sox would welcome him back.

Agents Randy and Alan Hendricks were told over the weekend that Boston wants the big right-hander back where he started his Hall of Fame career. Team CEO Larry Lucchino confirmed the team’s interest in a story first reported by the Boston Globe.

Clemens has not said whether he plans to pitch beyond the World Baseball Classic in March. Now 42, he was 13-8 with a 1.87 ERA for Houston last season but pitched poorly in the playoffs.

Now that Boston has made its interest known, the New York Yankees are sure to follow. Clemens has long been a favorite of owner George Steinbrenner.

Clemens was with the Red Sox from 1984-96 and the Yankees from 1999-2003.

•Red Sox owner John Henry again stood by Lucchino, saying the embattled team president would not be stripped of some power in order to lure former general manager Theo Epstein back.

“People currently speculating about a reduced role for Larry Lucchino don’t know what they are talking about,” Henry said in an e-mail to the Associated Press. “It’s completely absurd.”

Epstein walked away from the team on Halloween, turning down a three-year, $4.5 million contract extension because of what has been reported to be a falling out with Lucchino, his longtime mentor. The Red Sox have yet to replace Epstein, the GM of the team when it ended an 86-year World Series championship drought.

The lack of a replacement has done nothing to quell speculation that Epstein will return, either in his old job or as a consultant to former assistants Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington, who would serve as co-GMs. Reports this weekend said that Lucchino would have to cede power to make the job palatable for Epstein.

Giants zero in on Morris

The San Francisco Giants appear to be on the verge of signing free-agent right-hander Matt Morris, pending a physical examination.

San Francisco had offered Morris a two-year or a three-year contract. ESPN.com, citing an unidentified source, said Morris, 31, will sign a three-year, $27 million deal upon passing the physical. Morris has a history of shoulder and elbow troubles, although he has averaged 31 starts the past six seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Saturday, Morris’ agent, Barry Axelrod, informed other teams wooing his client – St. Louis, Seattle and Texas – that they no longer were being considered.

Orioles seek to soothe Tejada

Miguel Tejada and the Baltimore Orioles agree on this much: Both want to win.

There is still some question, however, whether Tejada will be a part of the team’s quest to become a contender.

Frustrated over the team’s failure to add quality talent during the off-season, the Orioles’ shortstop said last week he would like to be traded.

Baltimore has since received several trade offers, but executive vice president Mike Flanagan said the team wants to hold onto Tejada.

“We had long conversations with Tejada and his agents,” Flanagan said. “What came out of it was the sentiment that Miguel wants to play for a winner. Our goal is the same. We want to be a winner.”