Curt Schilling declares he wants to play for the Chicago Cubs . . . or Tampa Bay

David Whitley | Sentinel Staff Writer

12:14 PM CST, February 28, 2009

Curt Schilling likes to break curses. The Chicago Cubs have had one for over a century.

Could it be the perfect match?

Schilling said Saturday that he'd like to pitch for the Cubs this season. The 42-year-old missed the 2008 season with a shoulder injury, but the thought of helping Chicago win its first World Series in 101 years might lure him back for one more season.

"Absolutely I'll come back," he said at Disney World, where he was appearing in ESPN The Weekend activities.

Schilling led the expansion Diamondbacks to a World Series title in 2001. Three years later he helped Boston break an 86-year championship drought.

He got his third championship ring in 2007 with the Red Sox. He underwent shoulder surgery last June and filed for free agency at the end of the season.

Schilling, who has a career mark of 216-146, said money would not be a major issue. He's looking for a team that has championship potential and has never won a title.

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

The Rays are defending AL champions. Until last season they seemed cursed, having never finished higher than fourth in their division.

The Cubs history of futility included the Curse of the Billy Goat in 1945 to Steve Bartman's infamous pop-foul interference in 2003.

Schilling is not looking to be on an opening day roster. First he has to decide whether to try to come back, but he said his shoulder feels fine.

"I'm hemming and hawing right now," he said. "I'll make a decision in the next couple of weeks."