[UPDATE 7:04] The stalemate between the Red Sox and Schilling may be over. Reports have Schilling acceding to the Sox’s wishes of not having shoulder surgery.
However, as a result of that, Curt Schilling will be sidelined until the All-Star Break. He and the club left the decision to Dr. David Altchek of the New York Mets, who served as an intermediary. With Schilling and Morgan on the side of surgery (which may have ended Schill’s career) and the Sox and medical director Dr. Thomas Gill on the side of rest and rehabilitation, the two agreed to put the decision in Altchek’s hands (a rule put forth by the Collective Bargaining Agreement).
Schilling, who has a partial tear of the rotator cuff, may have had the Sox attempt to void his contract had he opted for surgery without permission from the club. This issue seems to have strained the relationship between Schilling and the club, which is a shame because I couldn’t be happier how this worked out in the end.
Why? Look, we need Schill for the end, not the beginning. He’s a postseason warrior, and this ensures that he’ll be there for us. (It needs to be mentioned here that it is possible he may not pitch at all or well after the Break, but that is the target here.) It ensures that he will be as healthy as he possibly can be under the conditions and can turn in a strong half. Given his advanced age (41), the extra rest should do him wonders, much like Roger Clemens consistently unretires and comes back a few months into the season.
This gives Clay Buchholz a great chance to break camp as the fifth starter for the Red Sox — and get this — allows the Red Sox to limit his innings the second half. With the anticipation of Schilling returning, they can pitch Buchholz with confidence that Buchholz can transition to the bullpen or be sent down to Triple-A for the second half of the season.
And if Schilling doesn’t return? The Red Sox can always sub in Julian Tavarez, David Pauley or make a deal (plenty of solid starters have been dealt during the waiver period, if it stretches that long).
What this situation does is give Clay Buchholz the opportunity to start and Schilling to be ready and healthy for the only month that matters: October.
[UPDATE 1:51] More news, this time from the Boston Herald.
Curt Schilling and the Boston Red Sox are locking horns, with Schilling’s shoulder at the forefront.
Schilling’s shoulder may have reached the point where he will require surgery to fix either his rotator cuff or labrum. The Herald speculates that Schilling and the Sox disagree about how to treat the issue. (The Globe reports that Morgan [see below] is recommending surgery while the Sox do not want Schill to go under the knife.)
[B]aseball sources have indicated that the club has at least inquired about the possibility of voiding the one-year, $8 million contract Schilling signed last November. It is not known to what lengths the Sox have gone on the matter, but their threat has been serious enough to create a conflict between Schilling and the Red Sox. BOSTON HERALD
Rotoworld.com speculates the Red Sox could make a run at Kyle Lohse, Bartolo Colon or Freddy Garcia. I don’t mind taking a flyer on Garcia and taking a look at him in June, but this should be an impetus for the Red Sox to start Clay Buchholz, not to bring in a pitcher like Lohse that has no business commanding multi-million, multi-year deals.
Start Buchholz and keep Tavarez in the bullpen.
[ORIGINAL 1:19] It looks like Curt Schilling’s shoulder is going to continue being a problem after all.
Schilling recently visited Dr. Craig Morgan, the doctor that operated on his shoulder way back in 1995. While Schilling, Morgan and Theo Epstein have not commented on the matter yet, you can be sure we’ll hear about it soon.
While it is premature to speculate on Opening Day availability, the same source that revealed Schilling’s inability to be ready for spring training would not rule out Schilling not being able to start the year on the active roster.
This is good news for Clay Buchholz, who would be the heavy favorite to break camp as the fifth starter should Curt Schilling not go. The Red Sox could also opt to start Julian Tavarez and carry a reliever in David Aardsma or Kyle Snyder.
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