Schilling to rehab injured shoulder

FORT MYERS, Fla., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Boston pitcher Curt Schilling said Monday he will abide by the league's collective bargaining agreement and have rehab for a shoulder injury instead of surgery.

Schilling preferred surgery, but maintains he wasn't hurt when he signed an $8 million deal with the Red Sox in November.

Red Sox physician Dr. Thomas Gill recommended rehab for a tendon injury. Dr. Craig Morgan, who operated on Schilling's right shoulder twice, said surgery was the best option. There was speculation that a surgical procedure could end Schilling's season.

"If some people want to believe this was me taking advantage of the situation financially, I wouldn't have done it here," said Schilling, 41. "I would have done it for $14 million in at least two other places, if I was going to sit on the DL and collect a paycheck.

"I was healthy at the time. I didn't feel great, but I felt like I was 40 or 41."