Curt Schilling To Stay With the Red Sox...Pettitte Declines An Option Year With The Yankees

Here are two pieces of good news for all of us in Red Sox Nation and Red Sox International to help start your Tuesday on the right foot. Number one, according to the Boston Herald and Curt Schilling himself, he and the club are very close to an agreement on an incentive-laden one year contract. Here is what the man himself had to say, from his blog......

"Talks with the Red Sox are moving. Theo and I have spoken multiple times daily over the past week and given the current situation I am feeling very confident that we will be able to finalize a 1 year contract to allow us a chance to finish our career as members of the Red Sox organization.
“There are some things to iron out and details that must be finalized for both sides but barring something unforeseen or outrageously odd happening I feel very comfortable that I will finish my career here.”

Peter here, and that is such a welcome turn of events. The market for free agent pitchers this off season is a nortoriously thin one, and Curt wanted to stay anyways. It was the fans' wish too, and he'll fit perfectly in that number two slot of the rotation, right after Josh Beckett and before Daisuke Matsuzaka. Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Timmy Wakefield should be competing for the final spot. I know, I know...that's six arms, but as we all learned last season, you can never have enough pitching. And the acquisition of Schill will allow Theo and company to add an arm or two to the bullpen, where the departure of Brendan Donnelly, due to injury, has left a gaping hole. We can't count on Paps and Oki every time. Now, it's on to another pressing and important issue. His name is Mike Lowell. He plays third base, and WE WANT HIM BACK. Theo said this yesterday...

“With respect to third basemen, signing Mike is our clear priority,” Epstein said.

Peter here, and those are the words we want to hear. Now, as for Andy Pettitte, arguably the most consistant pitcher for the Yankees in '07, especially during September and their short post season, the Herald had these wonderful words to say....

"Andy Pettitte declined his $16 million option with the New York Yankees.
Pettitte’s agent, Randy Hendricks, said yesterday in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “Accordingly, we are declining to exercise the option for 2008 and Andy will declare free agency in order to free up a roster spot for the Yankees.
“If Andy decides to play, I am confident we can reach an agreement with the Yankees within 24 hours. The only options, as Andy has stated, are the Yankees or retirement."

Peter here, and I, Sox fan that I am, hope he chooses the latter. He will leave a huge void in the Yankees' rotation, a team that for 2008 will have a very different player roster. They also need to re-sign Jorge Posada in the worst way-his departure would leave them in a heap of trouble.

Well, after reading that double-barreled chunk of great news, I hope that you will enjoy this still-dark Tuesday. The Sox are close to signing Schill and putting the emphasis on retaining the services of Mikey Lowell. And that's just what we wanted to hear. Hey, be safe out there, and I'd LOVE to read and respond to any and all of your comments. And click on the title of this post for the Globe's Nick Carfado's look at what's going on with the Schill and Lowell negotiations. Thanks. For being here!