Clemens will pitch in minors for independent team

Roger Clemens' signing with the Sugar Land (Texas) Skeeters has some wondering if it is the first step in a return to the majors.

The 50-year-old Clemens signed with the Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League on Monday, and he is expected to start for the minor league team Saturday at home against Bridgeport.

“His fastball was clocked at 87 mph. All of his pitches were working,” said Randy Hendricks, Clemens' agent. “He threw a three-inning simulated game after an extensive workout warm-up.”

Clemens and Skeeters manager Gary Gaetti have been talking about this “for months,” Hendricks said.

Crawford bound for surgery

Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford will have season-ending surgery on his left elbow Thursday. Crawford has been playing with pain since coming off the disabled list last month and will have Tommy John surgery.

Crawford was activated from the disabled list July 16 and was batting .282 with three homers and 19 RBI. He is expected to be sidelined six to nine months.

BoSox fire pitching coach

The Red Sox fired pitching coach Bob McClure and replaced him with former Pirates reliever Randy Niemann for the rest of the season.

The slumping Red Sox have lost 12 of 18 games this month to fall off the pace in the competitive AL East. Boston's 4.30 team ERA was 11th in the American League heading into Monday's games.

Santana's starts are numbered

Johan Santana's start Thursday for the New York Mets may be his final outing this season.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Monday before New York opened a series against the Colorado Rockies that he thinks the left-hander is good for one or two more starts but the situation will be reassessed around Sept. 1, when major league teams can expand their 25-man rosters.

After missing a year because of shoulder surgery, Santana threw the Mets' first no-hitter June 1 but has struggled to a 3-7 record with an 8.27 ERA since. Santana is 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA overall.

Braves sign Overbay

The Atlanta Braves signed former Pirates first baseman Lyle Overbay to a minor league contract. The 35-year-old first baseman, released by Arizona on Aug. 5, will report to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, general manager Frank Wren said Monday. Overbay was batting .292 with two home runs and 10 RBI with the Diamondbacks this season.

Yanks' Pineda gets DUI

Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda was charged with drunken driving in Tampa. Hillsborough County jail records show that the 23-year-old right-hander was arrested shortly after 3 a.m. Monday.