After three seasons of doing a Texas two-step, would Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte consider going duet on a chorus of that well-known New York song?

You know, the one that goes ... "If I can make it there ... it's not the same making it anywhere else."

Right now, although both pitchers on Monday filed for free agency, neither is sure about pitching in 2007. Clemens, baseball's Goodbye Guy, is expressing the usual uncertainties. Pettitte is dealing with burnout, essentially.

But if they do decide to pitch on, are their returns to the Bronx possible?

The Yankees think so, a team source informing the New York Daily News of their intent to at least inquire about the duo's mindset.

Furthermore, plans have already been discussed to actively pursue Pettitte, the left-hander who at 34 is 10 years The Rocket's junior. According to the Daily News, Pettitte has confided to friends that he would consider a return to New York -- if ...

Meanwhile, the wheeling-and-dealing star of last offseason is back for more. And Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi expects a more competitive scrum than a year ago, when he signed free agents B.J. Ryan, A.J. Burnett and Bengie Molina, and swung deals for Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay.

"From this weekend to Christmas, it's going to be a busy time," Ricciardi told the Toronto Globe and Mail, adding, "But for me, this year's market looks a lot different. Things aren't as clear right now."

Ricciardi described his latest needs as "another pitcher and another bat."

Join the Hot Stove crowd, J.P.:

Phillies: Rule them out of the Akinori Iwamura auction, even before the gavel drops on the Japanese third baseman formally posted Monday afternoon. The Phillies apparently will instead try to land a free agent -- Mark DeRosa or Wes Helms -- to share the hot corner with Abraham Nunez.

Indians: Count them among the teams which view free-agent second baseman Mark Loretta as an ideal bridge to some of their developing prospects. Following Ronnie Belliard's July 30 deal to St. Louis, 28-year-old rookie Joe Inglett hit .284 as the primary second baseman, so the Tribe doesn't feel any urgency.

Red Sox: Dealing with the free agencies and potential departures of their double-play combination -- Loretta and shortstop Alex Gonzalez -- the Sox at least appear close to signing veteran Alex Cora, who would offer insurance at both positions. The sides are negotiating a two-year contract, according to the Boston Globe.

Rangers: They could have a shot at Gary Sheffield -- as can any team willing to swap young pitching for a seasoned outfielder. But the Rangers aren't listening to the first name on the Yankees' lips -- 21-year-old lefty John Danks, who capped his steady four-year climb up the Minor League ladder by going 4-5 for Triple-A Oklahoma in the second half of last season; Danks has averaged more than a strikeout an inning since being Texas' No. 1 draft pick in 2003.

Astros: Craig Biggio may be as close to a contract that will keep him in Houston for a 20th season as he is to 3,000 hits -- and he is only 70 away from that milestone. His agent, Barry Axelrod, is "confident" a one-year deal will be done by the end of next week.

Padres: GM Kevin Towers didn't pull any punches to agent John Boggs in portraying his attitude toward re-signing Dave Roberts: It's down on his list of priorities, lower than landing a power hitter. "The No. 1 priority for us," Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "is getting a middle-of-the-order bat. We need to go out and exhaust all the options to try to do that."

Tigers: Detroit may find an in-house replacement for batting coach Don Slaught, who resigned after the season. Former Bucs manager Lloyd McClendon, Jim Leyland's bullpen coach last season, is a candidate for the position.

Vicente Padilla: The 29-year-old right-hander had a strong comeback season in Texas, but in the process may have priced himself out of the Rangers' future plans. Padilla, whose 15 wins were one shy of his total for 2004-05 in Philadelphia, is said to be seeking a deal in the four-year, $36 million range.

Jay Payton: After having worn five different uniforms since the middle of the 2002 season, the 33-year-old outfielder could be on the move again. Payton is committed to testing the open market (his agent has already heard from seven teams) after hitting .296 for the A's in 557 at-bats, the second busiest of his nine big-league seasons.