Schilling to pitch in '08 and beyond

[Zen653]

He claims he won't go to New York. Martinez and Damon once said the same.

"I will play in 2008," were the words Curt Schilling told Red Sox Nation this morning on WEEI.

His contract with the Red Sox ends after this season.

"Where I'm going to play beyond 2007, I hope it's Boston, but I will go out and find a home to pitch,” he said. “I hope it's here but there's also that possibility [of pitching for another team]."

Would he consider pitching for the Yankees in 2008?

"It wouldn't be in New York,” Schilling told host Gerry Callahan. “No. I could not make that move."

...


“I'm in discussions with the Red Sox, we had talked last week and there's a lot going on obviously right now, but where I'm going to play beyond 2007 ... I hope it's Boston,” he said . “This is where I want to play and in the days leading up to spring training we'll figure it out one way or the other. If I go into this season without a contract from the Red Sox then I will go out and find a home for 2008."

Schilling said his family played a big part in his decision not to hang ‘em up after this season.

"Over the last probably five to six months my wife and kids and I have been talking, and we came to conclusion about a week or 10 days ago that I was not going to retire in 2007," said Schilling. "I always believed physically I was going to be more than OK; I feel like last year, while I certainly didn't have a year like I know I could have, towards the end I became a lot healthier ...

Boston Red Sox - Extra Bases - Red Sox blog - Boston.com

I think Schilling saw what mediocre pitchers were getting on this market and decided that he might as well gun for one more big payday. I could see the Yankees offering him $16 million a year, especially with the Diamondbacks presumably out of the running after the Johnson acquisition. Alternatively, Schilling might go back to Philadelphia and try to improve his Hall of Fame chances.

I hope he signs an extension with Boston but I'm skeptical. The Red Sox tend not to allow emotion or legacy to interfere with their business dealings. Schilling is not what he once was and I think the Red Sox would rather get younger (even if not necessarily better.) I see him in another uniform next year, even though I'd rather see him stay and possibly go into the Hall as a Red Sox.

[ingagi]

Always nice to know The Schill plans on hanging around. I'm all for him retiring as a Sawk myself.

[AutomatedTeller]

If he wants to pitch in Boston, and is willing to not go to the highest bidder, I have to think he's here. It would make a nice end to his career, finishing it where he started (though he didn't pitch in the majors for the Sox as a rookie)

[rubberball]

If he is looking to help his HOF number he would sign with a national league team, maybe the Marlins. All Red Sox player that then go on to play in south Florida do very well.