Money might be a bit of an obstacle, but the Rocket is still pledging his loyalty to the pinstripes.

Roger Clemens is ready to wait for a return to the Yankees, The New York Times reported Thursday.

According to the report, the 40-year-old right-hander isn't planning any threats to jump to the Rangers and is prepared to wait as the Yanks adjust to the new collective bargaining agreement.

"We worked too hard to get him to the Yankees to just wander off over a close difference of opinion over what he's worth," Clemens's agent, Randy Hendricks, told The Times on Wednesday. "There's not one person with the Yankees that's said they don't want him back. It's just a question of the new world they're living in."

The Yankees might have been able to sign Clemens already if it weren't for the CBA, which will heavily tax New York's big payroll and has forced the Yanks to be frugal.

Clemens made $30.9 million over the past two years, and he might have to prepare for a cut in pay.

"We're sensitive to the dilemma they find themselves in," Hendricks told the newspaper. "The payroll tax and revenue-sharing squeeze is well known. The question is, what's the right deal for Roger and the Yankees? I've always told them we would focus on a one-year deal. Roger's goal is to win his 300th game in a Yankee uniform and play for the Yankees."

The Yankees have until Saturday to decide whether to offer salary arbitration to their free agents, including Clemens and relievers Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza. If the Yanks do not make the offer, they will lose negotiating rights with those players until May 1.

If they make the offer, the Yanks run the risk of an arbitrator awarding a raise to Clemens, who has 293 career victories and went 13-6 with an 4.35 ERA last season.

Hendricks said a deal could be in place by Christmas, but he is also prepared to wait until after the holiday to bring Clemens back.

"The important thing is to continue the dialogue," Hendricks told The Times.

New York has not made a formal offer to Clemens, but talks should extend past this weekend.

One signing the Yanks will announce Thursday, according to The Times, is the re-signing of third baseman Robin Ventura to a one-year, $5 million contract. Ventura is in town for a charity event Thursday and was planning to take a physical to complete the deal.

Ventura, 35, made $8.25 million in 2002, hitting .247 with 27 homers and 93 RBI.