Baseball - Schilling Just Wants A Contract 

Curt Schilling of Boston Red Sox has decided to pitch in 2008. Now he is looking for a contract and not for a raise. If the Red Sox do not give him an extension by the time spring training comes to an end, Schilling will become a free agent for the first time in his career after the 2007 World Series.

Schilling says that he will not negotiate with the Red Sox during the season. He thinks that if the contract extension is not offered then the best thing to do is to look for another alternative.

Earlier Schilling had announced the he would be retire after the 2007 season. However, recently he retracted that and made an announcement that he would return in the 2008 season. Schilling is a six time All Star and he acts as his own agent.

In the final year of his contract with Boston, he was set to make $13 million. He has had initial talks with Theo Epstein, Red Sox’s general manager, and indications are there that the Red Sox want him back in the team in 2008.

Schilling announced that he had informed the team that he would be ready to play for the same salary and that more money did not matter to him. However, he added that he is aware that the team might have other ideas about what they can pay. Schilling was very clear about what he wanted. He said that if he does not have a contract before the season starts, then he will have a contract after the 2007 season as a free agent.

Schilling is 40 years old and he is well aware that age could be an issue with the Red Sox. However, he was clear that he would not accept any conditions that would let the Red Sox check his performance at the beginning of the season before finalizing a new contract. Schilling is of the opinion that he is in a good shape physically and still has the zest to compete

Last season, Schilling was 15-7 with a 3.97 ERA and 183 strike outs. These strike outs included his 3,000th career strike out. He has been playing major league for 19 years and is 207-138 with a 3.44 ERA.