Curt Schilling

The possibility of a preseason contract extension for Curt Schilling is out; he’ll file for free agency after the ’07 season.  Schilling spoke to WEEI this morning and made the announcement.

This doesn’t rule out Schilling returning to the Red Sox for ’08 and beyond, however.  I’d be surprised if the Sox don’t make an offer, assuming he stays healthy this season.  If Schilling can duplicate his ’06 numbers (204 innings of 3.97 ball) he might be worth a one-year, $13MM commitment.  PECOTA sees Schilling posting 198 innings of 3.84 ball this season, and would pay him $8.6MM in ’08.  Suffice it to say he’ll top that on the open market, even if the Yankees aren’t involved.

Dan Shaughnessy got his arch-rival Curt Schilling on the phone recently to ask him about his contract demands.

Apparently Schilling had already been in discussion with Theo Epstein about coming back in 2008 before he broke the news on the airwaves.  The story had been about to leak, so Schilling announced it himself.

Schilling thinks the Red Sox want him back and that both parties could get the deal done in 15 minutes if they are close.  They’ll meet before spring training and make a decision one way or another.  Schilling seems to consider $13MM a discount; he feels he could get $17MM+ on the open market using the Yankees as leverage.

It seems likely to me that he stays in Boston.  A one-year, $13MM commitment is reasonable for the Red Sox.

Dan Shaughnessy got his arch-rival Curt Schilling on the phone recently to ask him about his contract demands.

Apparently Schilling had already been in discussion with Theo Epstein about coming back in 2008 before he broke the news on the airwaves.  The story had been about to leak, so Schilling announced it himself.

Schilling thinks the Red Sox want him back and that both parties could get the deal done in 15 minutes if they are close.  They’ll meet before spring training and make a decision one way or another.  Schilling seems to consider $13MM a discount; he feels he could get $17MM+ on the open market using the Yankees as leverage.

It seems likely to me that he stays in Boston.  A one-year, $13MM commitment is reasonable for the Red Sox.

Curt Schilling has decided to pitch in 2008, and he’s currently in contract discussions with the Red Sox.  He’s a free agent after the ’07 season, during which he’ll make $13MM.  Schilling told WEEI that he won’t consider pitching in New York.  He hopes to finish negotiations with the Red Sox before spring training, one way or another.

PECOTA likens Schilling to Gaylord Perry.  BP’s projection system values Schilling at $8.4MM in 2008. 

In my 2007 RotoAuthority Fantasy Guide, I’ve projected Schilling to post a 3.70 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 195 innings this year.