Astros hope to bring Bagwell back to organization

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- While Roger Clemens has taken a more prominent role in the organization as a special assistant to general manager Jeff Luhnow and Craig Biggio remains active with the team, the club is hoping to one day get Jeff Bagwell back in the fold.

Bagwell had served as a special assistant for years following his retirement in 2006, and even did occasional television analyst work on Astros broadcasts, but he's not actively involved with the team. Biggio and Enos Cabell are special assistants, and will be at spring camp at some point.

"We want Jeff to be involved as soon as he's ready to play a more significant role like Biggio, Roger and others are playing, like Enos," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "We're ready to receive him, and that's what we're hoping for."

Bagwell played 15 seasons for the Astros before a degenerative shoulder condition ended his career in 2005, and he officially retired the following year. He served as Astros interim hitting coach for the final part of the 2010 season. Bagwell received 59.6 percent of the vote in his third year on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot this year.