Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox pitcher, called on Roger Clemens to abandon the four Cy Young Awards he has won since 1997 if he can’t justify himself after allegations that he used performance-enhancing steroids. Schilling believes that Cy Youngs Awards should go to winners who really deserve it. Clemens was the biggest name in the Mitchell Report released last week, and despite all allegations, Clemens has denied using steroids.

Saturday was the first day when 2008 spring training games tickets went on sale, and the  sold over 27,000 tickets! A total of 27,588 tickets, which includes tickets sold over the internet, by phone, and at the City of Palms Park ticket, were sold Saturday for 2008 spring training games at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Florida. Tickets remain for nine of the 13 games that will be played at City of Palms Park this spring.

The Boston Red Sox have claimed that they will not tender a 2008 contract to Brendan Donnelly. Donnely, the righthander, was traded from the LA Angels of Anaheim last offseason. He was 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 27 relief appearances with the Red Sox in 2007. Because of the elbow’s injury that he got after June 10, Donnely is likely to miss all of 2008. Midnight Wednesday is a deadline for the teams to tender 2008 contracts to all unsigned players. Those not tendered contracts will be granted free agency.

The Red Sox have hired George Aspeitia as a new head coach. Aspeitia, who lives in Montebello, CA., is currently has no job after a collapse of his Fox College Sports television program, College Baseball Weekly. Before that, Aspeitia was an assistant coach with the Cal State Fullerton Titans, with whom he competed in the 1999 College World Series. Aspetia was also a coach of the Northern Ohio team in the Great Lake Summer League and contributed to a record of 114-31 over four seasons, winning three league titles and two coach-of-the-year awards.

The beat goes on in the Santana trade talks. GMs were rolling their bags through the hotel lobby, where conversed all week during the winter meeting. They packed up and headed for the airport. Before departing, the Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein made sure to touch base with Smith, his Minnesota Twins counterpart, one last time as the highest profile of the potential contracts remained within reach. The Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox agreed to continue to have an open dialogue.

The best club in MLB is ready to acquire the best pitcher on the market. The WS champions are working acquiring 2-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins for a package that might include left-handed pitcher Lester or outfielder Ellsbury. The Minnesota Twins GM Bill Smith would not discuss the talks. Boston GM Theo Epstein declined to comment on Johan Santana as well.

The Red Sox have reached deal terms with Mike Timlin, relief pitcher. The agreement will bring the veteran right-handed pitcher back for an eighteenth big league season. This will be his 6th with the Boston Red Sox. The media reported the offer would be around $3 million, a $300,000 raise from his previous season salary. Mike Timlin appeared in fifty matches for the WS champions in 2007, setting a 2-1 record and 3.42 earned run average.

With the Twins insisting on Jacoby Ellsbury in any trade for Johan Santana, the Red Sox have decided they will not trade pitcher Lester and Ellsbury together. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees, have informed Minnesota they are going to pull their offer off the table soon unless they get an answer. New York altered their offer on Friday, adding Hughes after much internal debate, to go along with Cabrera and a 3rd prospect.