Curt Schilling's last dance with the Boston Red Sox is the coming 2007 MLB Baseball Season?

Yep, this is it.

Apparently, Curt Schilling will play out the entire 2007 MLB Baseball season as a member of the Boston Red Sox. After this season is over, (heck, this season haven't even started yet!) he's testing the market and will file for free agency.

Hmm... At least the guy's telling the Red Sox organization that this early eh? Curt Schilling said he will become a free agent after the MLB Baseball season and won't let that distract him during his fourth year with the Boston Red Sox.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein wouldn't rule out in-season discussions for a new contract though. At a brief meeting between the two, Epstein told his pitcher, Curt Schilling, that the team would not give him an extension during spring training, as the veteran had wished.

And they expect him to sign a contract in the middle of the season? Jeez...

''Curt's going to be 41, and at that age we've got to be a little more conservative,'' Epstein said. ''It doesn't mean we don't want him back. I have all the confidence in the world that if Curt wants to pitch in 2008 and he's still pitching effectively, as I expect he will, then we'll find a way to keep him in a Red Sox uniform.''

Of course, you just know that Curt Schilling wasn't happy about the team turning down the extension that he wanted.

He said he was ''disappointed'' but understood the club's position. He also said he would not negotiate with the Red Sox during the 15 days following the MLB World Series, when they are the only club allowed to discuss money with him.

''I will file for free agency at the end of the season and they know that,'' Curt Schilling said. ''I'm going to get ready for opening day and this is not going to change anything that I do or how I do it''

Can Curt Schilling lead the Boston Red Sox to the World Series? Who will win the 2007 MLB World Series Championship? Bodog has the odds.

New York Yankees 7/2

Boston Red Sox 9/1

Detroit Tigers 5/1

St. Louis Cardinals 9/1

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for more MLB Baseball Odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Boston Red Sox Curt Schilling