Tuesday, March 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Curt Schilling broke off contract talks with the Philadelphia Phillies, prompting the staff's No. 1 starter to predict he will be traded before opening day.
With rumors swirling that Cleveland and other contenders want him, Schilling had planned a Monday meeting with president Bill Giles and Lee Thomas as the make-or-break deadline for working out an extension beyond 1997.
But the Phillies refused to budge on Schilling's demand that all $15 million-plus for three years be guaranteed. Instead, they assured him $9 million in base salary and proposed the rest be paid based on how much he plays, a plan that Schilling and agent Jeff Borris rejected.
"They wanted me to pitch innings to guarantee the money, and we told them that was not an option," Schilling said. "They knew this was the final day. I'm disappointed it didn't turn out the way I hoped."
"I think they're foolish not to sign me," he said. "I know they have to make business decisions, and I don't think they made a good one."
Schilling said he did not intend to negotiate again with the Phillies this season. He is set to make $3.5 million this year and is eligible for free agency after the season.
Notes
* IRABU GOING HOME: Without so much as throwing one of his vaunted fastballs, Hideki Irabu apparently will return to Japan and sit out this big-league season. The San Diego Padres, who own Irabu's rights, don't anticipate a deal by today with the Yankees or anyone else.
* SNOW CAN WORK OUT: Some residual swelling, redness in his eye and a shiner are the only visible signs of J.T. Snow's frightening confrontation with Randy Johnson's fastball. Six days after being struck in the face by a pitch from Johnson, the Giants first baseman cleared a major hurdle on the road to recovery, receiving medical clearance Monday to resume workouts.
* MESA AT HEARING: Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Jose Mesa has departed from spring training to attend a hearing on a rape charge against him. Several motions were pending today before Cuyahoga County Judge Thomas Curran, including one by the defense to have the pitcher's arrest thrown out because police used a ruse to take Mesa into custody.
Exhibitions
* PADRES 8, ROCKIES 5: At Peoria, Ariz., Doug Dascenzo, battling for San Diego's last backup outfield spot, had a double, a triple, two RBIs and scored once.
* DODGERS 7, TIGERS 6: At Vero Beach, Fla., Raul Mondesi's spring average rose to .408 with a 3-for-4 performance -- including a decisive two-run double in a three-run sixth.
* CUBS 8, ANGELS 1: At Tempe, Ariz., rookie Brooks Kieschnick had a pair of two-run homers, and Steve Trachsel allowed four hits and a run in six innings, sending Anaheim to its fifth consecutive loss.
* GIANTS 6, ATHLETICS 5: At Phoenix, Glenallen Hill hit a three-run homer and Shawn Estes pitched two scoreless innings.
* RED SOX 5, ORIOLES 4: At Fort Myers, Fla., John Valentin homered and Tim Wakefield pitched five strong innings as Boston broke a four-game losing streak.
* BLUE JAYS 5, INDIANS 2: At Dunedin, Fla., Robert Perez drove in the go-ahead run on a squibbler, leading to a three-run eighth. Toronto starter Pat Hentgen allowed two runs and four hits in five innings.
* PIRATES 13, CARDINALS 3: At Bradenton, Fla., Jon Lieber pitched six strong innings and hit a two-run double, and Mark Johnson continued his hot spring
* REDS 4, METS 1: At Port St. Lucie, Fla., Pokey Reese hit a three-run homer off Mark Clark in the fifth. John Smiley allowed two hits in six shutout innings and walked three.
* RANGERS 4, TWINS 2: At Fort Myers, Fla., Mickey Tettleton hit a two-run homer in the eighth, connecting on an 0-2 pitch with two outs against Twins reliever Greg Swindell.
* MARLINS 4, BRAVES 1: At West Palm Beach, Fla., Devon White hit a game-tying single in the eighth, and another run scored on an error. Braves starter John Smoltz allowed three hits in five innings.
* PHILLIES 6, WHITE SOX 5: At Sarasota, Fla., Desi Relaford hit a two-run homer off Bill Simas in the 10th inning, sending Chicago to its fourth consecutive loss.
* YANKEES (ss) 8, ROYALS 2: At Haines City, Fla., Mike Figga hit his fifth spring homer and Clay Bellinger hit a three-run homer. Figga homered in the seventh off Doug Johns, claimed on waivers last week from Oakland. Bellinger's homer came off Derek Lilliquist in the Yankees' four-run eighth.
* YANKEES (ss) 9, GRAMBLING 0: At Grambling, La., Cecil Fielder and Darryl Strawberry hit consecutive home runs and designated hitter Dwight Gooden doubled in a run.
* BREWERS 17, MARINERS 5: At Chandler, Ariz., Todd Dunn hit for the cycle, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs. Dunn, a 26-year-old rookie who led the Class AA Texas League with a .340 batting average last season, hit a two-run homer and also had a sacrifice fly.
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