His contract's up after 2004. Arizona can't afford to re-sign him. He has a no-trade clause, so he can dictate where he can be traded. He previously said that if the Diamondbacks don't want him back, the only other place he'd want to pitch is Philadelphia. But the Phils' trade for Billy Wagner, combined with Arizona's high asking price to make a trade, seems to make a deal for Schilling a longshot. And according to the article linked below, he'll agree to a trade to the Yankees only if they give him a 3-year contract extension.

Schilling faces reality

Then again...from an AP article...

What I read in the paper had the D-Backs asking for both Nick Johnson and Alfonso Soriano in return for being freed from the responsibility of paying $15 million to a 37-year old pitcher coming off an injury-plagued year. Good luck getting that....

Nick and Sori? Ha!

The Diamondbacks are asking for too much. Curt Schilling is obviously someone you would want on your team. But for the moment, Javier Vazquez of the Expos looks more of a possibility for the Yankees. The team that has caught my attention so far this off-season is the San Francisco Giants, who seem quite willing to spend some money.

I agree the Diamondbacks are asking for too much whether it's the Yankees or the Phillies. It's not just propects they want, but good ballplayers already in the majors.

Brett Myers is no longer a prospect, he is a young solid contributor in the rotation. Swapping Schilling for Myers does not net you a whole lot more then what you have now.

If no suitable trade is available, the Diamondbacks may just hold on to him till the trading deadline in July, when teams in the hunt need a veteran to get them over the top.

I was listening to Howard Eskin tonight on a sports wrap up program talking about Shilling. He said the Phillies may now be the frontrunners if a trade with Arizona is to take place.

Apparently negotiations with the Yankees have stalled because 1) Arizona wants both Johnson and Soriano from the Yankees, which they don't want to give up. 2) Shilling wants a 3 year 50 million deal which the Yankees won't do.

The Diamondbacks want alot from the Phillies as well, including Marlon Byrd and Brett Myers. The Phillies won't part with these two. However Schilling will take much less money to pitch in Philadelphia. So it all depends on how desperate Arizona wants to dump his salary as to whether they will rethink their demands.

Who knows where Howard gets his information, but he has been wrong on occasion so time will tell.

Schilling to Boston?

Red Sox "general manager Theo Epstein and team owner John Henry will fly to Arizona on Wednesday to talk to Schilling about joining the Sox pitching staff... The fact that Schilling pitched for the Phillies when Terry Francona was his manager adds intrigue to today's trade reports. Francona is seen by many as the man who will become the next Red Sox skipper." - Boston Globe, 11/24/03

Be willing to guarantee that Schilling vetoes a trade to Boston. There's only two possible teams that he will play for next year:

Phillies
Yankees

Curt Schilling is too selfish of a player to play in Fenway with the short left field wall. He's all about himself and he will turn this into major drama.

I think Curt's doing drugs...

"I have made it known that he would be a reason I'd be interested in going to Boston," Schilling said of Francona, his manager when they were with the Phillies. "I only said that because it was my understanding that he was a slam-dunk for the job anyway. I love the guy. He's a great manager."

Why does it seem that Arizona is requesting so much from the Yankees and Phillies for Curt Schilling, and yet is willing to take so little from the Red Sox? Or is this just me that sees it this way? :confused:

It's an anti-Yankee conspiracy; they're SO afflicted.

What's "so little"? For a pitcher of Schilling's age and (in 2003) fragility?

Actually, given that Schilling's 37, coming off some injuries, and only signed for one more year, the Boston package (I read Casey Fossum and two prospects somewhere) seems appropriate. What seems crazy is that the Diamondbacks were insisting on Alfonso Soriano and Nick Johnson from the Yankees. Might be Jerry Colangelo's way of getting back at the Yanks for torpedoing his handshake deal with David Wells a couple of years ago.

So, based on what you say, MM, the Boston/Arizona deal is pretty fair. But, Colangelo's frosty relations with the Steinbrenner made him not as willing to make a practical deal with the Yanks. What is Colangelo's problem with Philadelphia?

Seems the D'backs are looking to stockpile young arms. They took 2 lefties and a righty along with one outfielder.

I'm not sure that there's a problem per se. Looks like the Sox just got in there first. Also, while I read that Schilling was interested in going to the Phillies; I don't remember reading that the Phillies were feeling the same way.

Apparently there was a rumor on Philly sports radio that the Phils were offering Cole Hamel and Chase Utley for Schilling, but the team is saying that there was never a deal in the works:
http://philadelphia.comcastsportsnet.com/s...3-schilling.prm

Here's a little on Jorge De La Rosa, one of the Sox prospects, from John Sickels on espn:

"He made 20 starts at Double-A Portland, going 6-3 with a 2.80 ERA and a 102/36 K/BB ratio in 100 innings. This earned him a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket, where he went 1-2 in five starts, with a 3.76 ERA and a 17/12 K/BB in 24 innings...


"...He has a fastball clocked as high as 94 mph. His slider is very good, and he improved his ability to change speeds this year. His biggest problem right now is still command... Some people think he'll end up as a reliever, since he's generally more effective against lefty hitters."

Thanks guys. This makes it much clearer to me.
Now the Yankees could throw money at Bartolo Colon, Vladimir Guerrero, Javier Vasquez, and Andy Pettite. This is going to get to be the wildest off-season between New York and Boston yet. ...and A-Rod is still completely up in the air.

The deadline for Schilling and Boston to work out a deal has been extended for 24 hours, to Saturday at 5 pm ET.

Meanwhile, Schilling posted a message at the Red Sox website. It begins: "First off to any and all members of the media I would ask that if you are here, that this information remain here. I am posting this for the fans of this site. I know there are no hard fast rules to this kind of thing but it would be greatly appreciated if this post and its content remained on this site alone. I had hoped to post to the SoSH (Sons of Sam Horn) site since its private, but that was not possible."

The contents remain on that site? Fat chance, Curt!

Expect the final deal with the BoSox to be announced tonight: Shilling for Casey Fossum and Brandon Lyon.

Great post, Curt. :cool: Thanks for the link, Joe. wink

This is the money part of it according to ESPN.com:

Now how do the Yankees respond?

It's official Schilling is now a member of the Boston REDSOX! KEWL!!! MY favorite baseball team!

But if the Red Sox think that George Steinbrenner is going to sit still while the Red Sox pick up Schilling, while the Astros make a pitch to Petitte.... I wouldn't be surprised if the Yanks payroll goes over $200 mil. next year.

How is it that a story about the Red Sox signing Schilling immediately leads to a gratuitous slam about the Yankee payroll? Let it go.

BTW, do we now get to call the Sox an "Evil Empire," a la Larry Lucchino's snide and hypocritical comments last year?

MM, you know how it goes...
We Yankee fans take the high road, and let it go like we always do!

I'm not sure if you're referring to canmark's comment or mine, but either way I don't think there's a slam. It's just a fact of life that the Yankees spend money, and even with the luxury tax they're going to continue to spend money.

If you're referring to mine... it was actually a sort-of compliment.

Theo Epstein had been considered (by some) to be a disciple of the Billy Beane Moneyball school, but obviously he (and the Red Sox) have decided to follow the Steinbrenner philosophy.

But the Red Sox should be wary, for the road is littered with big-spending poor-producing teams (ie. Mets, Rangers, Orioles).

The Yankees may spend a lot, but at least they make it to the playoffs. But like the Braves, the frequency with which they appear in the post season is what makes them tiresome.

Thanks for clearing that up, Canmark (may I call you "Can?" ) Sorry if I jumped to an uncharitable conclusion.

[ November 30, 2003, 07:17 PM: Message edited by: Munson Man ]

Anybody here a member of SOSH?

(Not completely OT - Curt's been coming around and chatting with us.)

Yep, altho' haven't been there lately. Thanks for the tip.

Pardon my ignorance (it is bliss) but what is SOSH?

~Adam

Sons of Sam Horn, the smartest, cleverest and most knowledgeable Red Sox discussion board / Website.

Where will Curt Schilling end up? Well, he's with the Red Sox now, but he'll end up on the disabled list.

I'm not a Yankee fan, but this was a stupid move by Boston.

Hey, redsoxbreath, I am.

Now that the Schilling deal has been done for a couple of days, the talk of A-Rod heading to Boston and N-Gar heading west (Anaheim being a definite possibility) has been heating up. I guess after winning an MVP, A-Rod wants a ring.

~Adam

Arrrrghhh!!! Love ya Adam, but stop it with the A-Rod, N-Gar and A-Pet stuff! Pretty please? Jeebus. It's Nomah.

As an Angels fan, I don't want Nomar Garciaparra, I want the supposedly excellent Japanese SS Japanese shortstop Kazuo Matsui that a bunch of team are fighting over. Nomah is on the downside of his career.

[ December 03, 2003, 12:39 AM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

Then why would he want to go to Boston?

Omigod, Cattledog, you wrote EXACTLY what I was thinking. It's that Vulcan mind meld thing we Yankee fans have going on.....

He goes to the Yankees, they win, so what? Business as usual. If he goes to Boston and they win the World Series, he's a GOD in that town for all eternity. Not that ballplayers have egos or anything.....

The guy is very thoughtful and articulate -- great discussion about Boston sports media...