Comeback? Pitcher Curt Schilling lists Tampa Bay Rays among teams he'd consider

Pitcher Curt Schilling, who is mulling a comeback, told the Orlando Sentinel that he would consider playing for a championship-caliber team such as the Rays or Cubs.

Schilling, 42, last pitched for the Red Sox in 2007 en route to his third World Series title. He missed all of last season and had shoulder surgery in the summer.

He told the Sentinel money wouldn't be a huge issue and he'd look for a contender that has yet to win a title.

"The challenge would be in a place like Tampa Bay or Chicago," he said.

Schilling still hasn't decided whether he'll pitch again but told the paper his shoulder feels fine. Rays fans last saw him throw a ceremonial first pitch in the 2008 ALCS.

Schilling made similar statements in 2007 on a radio show, before re-signing with the Red Sox for another year. He told Boston's WEEI in 2007 about considering the Rays:

"It's one of those situations you'd certainly have to look at. Knowing that I'm probably going to spend one more year playing, if circumstances happen and things happen and they made some moves that were positive, I'd love nothing more than to finish my career working on a pitching staff where I know that there are young guys that are going to be positively impacted by me being around (after) I was gone. I enjoy that."

Joe Smith, Times staff writer