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NEW YORK - There's no question Roger Clemens is an exceptional pitcher. His special privileges, however, are still being questioned.

Clemens, who did not travel with the Astros on a consistent basis over the past three seasons in order to be with his family and work with the Minor League pitchers in the organization, will be given the same privileges as a New York Yankee, which has been one of the biggest speculations still surrounding the right-hander's return.

"He'll come and go," said Brian Cashman on Sunday. "It's as simple as that."

On Monday afternoon, Cashman reiterated that notion and added that the GM intends to honor what's in the 44-year-old's one-year, $28-million contract, which is pro-rated from the day he's placed on the Major League Roster.

The Yankee organization was assumed to be one that wouldn't hand out special benefits to certain players, regardless of their super-stardom, but Cashman knew in order to land The Rocket, a well-known creature of habit, and keep him away from the rival Red Sox, he and the other team officials would have to make an exception.

"Over time we had more time to ponder it and he was one of the guys we really wanted," said Cashman of the Family Plan. "We had a lot of conversations about him over the winter. He's a guy who can help us win now and help us protect our system by not giving up guys to get him.

"It's not something we gravitated towards easily, but obviously we're committed to it now. It's somebody we really wanted. It [the family plan] was an obstacle we had to remove. We couldn't have been it if we didn't consider the family plan. Part of the enticement for him was the family plan."

According to the GM, the Yankees had conversation with Clemens December of 2006 through February of 2007. Once they knew Clemens would need a family plan in his contract, manager Joe started checking with players in March at Spring Training and tried to gauge the level of concern, or lack there of, throughout the team.

"I knew there was something that was going to have to be discussed and it wasn't an issue," said Torre who has not discussed the family plan with Clemens. "There are certain teams that I think will have more effect than other teams. And just the personality of this team and knowing what's important here... understanding what's really important now.

"If a problem arises from it then we'll address it. We try to accommodate without disrupting."

In what is likely his last year as Yankee manager, Torre made it clear he will do whatever it takes to win the World Series and his players will support he and Cashman if and when Clemens decides to skip a road trip. However, Torre won't predict the future and isn't certain Clemens will take advantage of every opportunity to go home.

"First off, we don't know what's going to happen," Torre said. "Just because it's a part of his contract doesn't mean its going to happen and don't know how it's going to happen. We'll take it and see where we are and see what comes of it.

And if a player, however, asks Torre, "Clemens gets to do it but I don't?"

"When I'm faced with it I'll deal with it," said Torre who also said the players' opinions are extremely important to him. "If it happens and it shows up Ill deal with it and address it. I'm not hiding from it. But I'm not going to worry about something that may not happen."

Torre said the most important thing for him is the mood of the team and therefore had an open mind about the Clemens' special treatment.

"I tried to get a feel for it," Torre said. "If it becomes an issue we have to deal with it but I'd like to believe it won't become an issue.

Due to the abundance of young arms playing musical chairs in the rotation, the only two players who would have an issue with Clemens' rules would be veterans Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina. Pettitte, Clemens' best friend, was a teammate of Clemens in Houston for three years and understood why Clemens was able to do what he did. Mussina, known to voice his opinion a time or two with the media, hasn't won a world Series in his six years with the Yankees, and presumably wouldn't ruffle such delicate feathers.

"Moose is Moose," Torre said. "I don't think Moose's personality is going to change what he does or what's expected of him."

As of now, Clemens, who was in New York Monday afternoon for the Continental Airlines golf tournament, will work out at the University of Kentucky, since the Houston Astros and the Yankees did not feel it was appropriate for him to use the Astros' facility. Rehabilitation games, most likely three, will be mapped out when Clemens feels he is close to being ready to rejoin the Yankees.

"What we can expect from Roger and its reasonable is he gives us a chance to win," said Torre who wouldn't' shy away from giving Clemens the start at Fenway Park the first week in June. "Does that mean he's going to strike out 12 or pitching seven innings? Not necessarily.

"But I think when you send him out to the mound he knows what he's doing and whether it's five or six innings, he's going to give you a chance."