Bob Cook

On Wednesday, the Houston Astros declined to offer arbitration to two veterans: Roger Clemens and Jose Vizcaino. Other than the Vizcaino family, Vizcaino's agent and his family, and people who still try to imitate the late Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray saying, "ho-ZAY visssssss-cai-EEEEN-o", no one is going to much care where he ends up. But what about Clemens?

Clemens, at 43, is still among the best pitchers in baseball. Sure, he broke down in the Astros' 4-0 World Series whitewashing against the Chicago White Sox — who among the Astros didn't, really? In the regular season, Clemens finished third in the National League Cy Young balloting, and led the NL with a 1.87 ERA — amazing for a pitcher of any age, much less one only seven years from eligibility for AARP membership.

So it's likely that as Clemens putters around the yard, wearing sandals and white socks while he sits in a lawn chair and holds a trickling hose, or whatever the heck he does in the offseason while deciding whether to retire, he and his agent are going to get plenty of calls from other teams that might not mind shelling out $20 million for a pitcher who's geriatric in age, but not in performance.

Here are the unofficial odds of where he ends up next:

Team: Texas Rangers
Odds: 3-1

Why he'd go: With Nolan Ryan, the Rangers established a precedent of bringing aging, Texas-born-and-bred fireballers winding down their careers "home" to Arlington so the club might bask in their reflected glory, and reap big money from the ticket sales they generate. Kerry Wood — if all goes well, this is your future. For Clemens, the Rangers are the closest he can get to his Houston home without playing in Houston, so he could easily travel back if he gets an Astros-type deal where he doesn't have to go to the park on days he doesn't pitch. Plus, going to the team that lead the American League in home runs with a team-record 260, he would not have to worry about run support anymore (in nine of his starts last year, the Astros were shut out).

Why he wouldn't: Even with Clemens, Texas might well be an also-ran in the American League. Also, the Rangers didn't offer arbitration to Kenny Rogers, depriving Clemens of another 40-plus pitcher to hang out with, as well as to run interference for him in case any pesky cameramen get in his way.

Team: New York Yankees
Odds: 6-1

INTERACTIVE Who went where this offseason?

Why he'd go: Of course the Yankees are contenders. How many other teams have any extra $20 million in pocket change lying around? Clemens had his greatest team success as a Yankee, and much of his greatest happiness there, as well. Much to the chagrin of Red Sox fans who watched him the first 13 years of his career, Clemens once threatened to boycott his future Hall of Fame ceremony if the Hall made him wear a Red Sox cap, rather than his desired Yankees cap, upon his induction.

Why he wouldn't: The logistics of getting back and forth from New York to Houston if indeed he can go home whenever he's not pitching. That the Yankees, despite all their money, are not what they were when Clemens was there from 1999-2003.

Team: Houston Astros
Odds: 10-1

INTERACTIVE By MSNBC.com's Tony DeMarco

Why he'd return: Under baseball's rules, the Astros may not re-sign Clemens until May 1. But Clemens might figure a little rest would work to his advantage, especially given his plans to pitch for the USA team in March's World Baseball Classic. Also, there's the remote possibility he could play in September with his son, Astros minor-leaguer Koby Clemens, becoming baseball's version of Gordie and Mark (and Marty) Howe, except with a full set of teeth. He'd be close to that green, green grass of home. Clemens has a 10-year personal services contract that kicks in with the Astros after he retires for good, so maybe he re-signs out of loyalty.

Why he wouldn't: The Astros, with backloaded contracts to a lot of veterans who have seen better days (for example, Jeff Bagwell), might not want to pony up the dough. Clemens might look at Houston's punchless lineup and have night sweats over having a season like Nolan Ryan did with the Astros in 1987, when he led the National League in ERA — and finished 8-16. Clemens might feel spry after the World Baseball Classic and decide he wants to pitch in April, too, especially if he wants a clear shot at finishing the season with 350, or 360, career wins. (With two more wins, Clemens, who now has a career record of 341-172, passes Tim Keefe for eighth place on the all-time career wins list. You're forgiven for not knowing Keefe, who retired in 1893, not long before Clemens was born.)