Schilling will pitch in '08

Curt Schilling never meant to mislead anyone about his retirement plans; it's just that his most private conversations with his wife and children led him to a different future.

"We'd been talking about it for a while," said Schilling last night. "But until recently, we didn't get down to the point we did these past few weeks. It was a very personal, private decision made by my wife and kids and I, and I wanted zero outside influences on it."

Schilling, 40, whose original plan was to retire after the 2007 season, announced on WEEI radio yesterday morning that he had changed his mind and wants to pitch again in 2008. The Red Sox righthander, who will earn $13 million this season, said he would likely be looking for a similar contract for 2008.

"I'm in discussions with the Red Sox," he said. "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.

"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."

While Red Sox management has not formally discussed Schilling's future, owner John Henry seemed excited by Schilling's decision, saying in an e-mail, "He's such a competitor, you had to figure that if he is healthy, pitching well, and still has that fire, it would make sense for him to continue. He's still one of the elite pitchers in all of baseball."

While Schilling is hoping that talks on an extension won't get into spring training, Sox general manager Theo Epstein is taking some time off before camp begins, which might preclude a quick resolution.

The news of Schilling playing through '08 was music to the ears of Sox manager Terry Francona.

"I've known for a while," Francona said. "We talked about it. I can't remember when, but I knew what he was thinking.

"The older you get, the bigger the price you pay for playing. You have children to consider and now Curt has a business and all of those things come into play.

"But a year is a long time. A lot can change, and the way he feels right now, he feels he can keep pitching. I don't doubt that Curt can pitch at a high level as long as he wants to."

Schilling went 15-7 with a 3.97 ERA last season, and figures he could win another championship with a loaded Red Sox lineup and starting rotation. A couple more good seasons would also enhance his Hall of Fame credentials. He currently compares favorably to Jim Hunter and Don Drysdale, but add about 30 more wins and more postseason appearances, and Schilling could be a shoo-in for Cooperstown.

If he remains healthy, Schilling figures with wisdom and talent he can continue to excel and perhaps rub off on the twentysomethings in Boston's rotation -- Jonathan Papelbon, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Josh Beckett.