Curt Schilling and the Boston Red Sox finalized an $8 million, one-year contract Tuesday that keeps the star right-hander with the World Series champions. The deal provides for him to make an additional $5 million in bonuses and match his 2007 salary. It contains $3 million in performance bonuses based on innings pitched and $2 million based on weight clauses. "We need some protection in case he wasn't able to stay healthy," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. "If he can stay healthy, he's very affordable, protects our rotation. If he does recondition his body and stays healthy all year and has a great season, he'll be rewarded for it."

In 2004, Schilling went 21-6 and helped lead the Red Sox to their first World Series title since 1918.

Schilling's velocity diminished this year and he was 9-8 during the regular season. He then went 3-0 in four starts during the playoffs to improve his postseason record to 11-2.

Schilling turns 41 later this month.

"Did I leave money on the table? Yes. Could I have gotten another year? I think so," Schilling said on his Web site. "Looking at the teams that called, my best guess would be around $14 million-$15 million for a one-year deal with the potential to get $25 million-$30 million for a two-year deal."

Schilling said he spoke with Houston's Drayton McLane and Ed Wade, and Philadelphia's Bill Giles. But he and his family preferred to stay with Boston.

"We got exactly what we wanted, and then some," he said. "This is where we want our career to come to a close. This city, this team. This is where we want to retire, raise our kids, and walk away. We got it, all of it, and more."

After the Red Sox declined to give him an extension, Schilling said in February that he would become a free agent after the season. He said then he would return for Boston in 2008 for $13 million, the same salary he earned in 2007.

Schilling would get a $375,000 bonus for pitching 130 innings, and an additional $375,000 for every 10-inning increment up to 200. He also will have six random weigh-ins, one per month, and get $333,333 each time he maintains his weight.

"I inserted the weigh-in clause in the second round of offers, counteroffers," Schilling said. "Given the mistakes I made last winter and into spring training, I needed to show them I recognized that, and understood the importance of it. Being overweight and out of shape are two different things. I also was completely broadsided by the fact that your body doesn't act/react the same way as you get older."

Written By RONALD BLUM