Schilling fears for career

Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, 41,finally faced reporters Monday and said that if the shoulder rehabilitation he reluctantly agreed to fails, his career could be over.

The Red Sox ace also denied that he was injured when he signed an $8-million contract in November.

Speaking publicly for the first time about his preference for surgery, the right-hander said he had to follow the team’s insistence on rehabilitation because he is under contract.

“I don’t have any choice. If their course of action doesn’t work, I don’t pitch this year, and I may never pitch again,” Schilling said. “I have to mentally get behind it and do everything I can do to make it work.”

Team owner John Henry said he thought rehabilitation was the best treatment and, from what he’s heard, there’s “a reasonably good chance” that Schilling will pitch this season.

The club and the pitcher hope he can return around the All-Star break.

Red Sox team physician Thomas Gill recommended rehab for the tendon injury. Schilling sought a second opinion from Dr. Craig Morgan, who operated on the right shoulder in 1995 and 1999. Morgan felt strongly that surgery was best and that rehabilitation would fail and end Schilling’s career.

A third doctor, New York Mets team physician David Altchek, was consulted. He said Schilling had a rotator cuff injury as well as the tendon problem and he felt surgery would sideline the pitcher for the season, Morgan said.

Bret Boone came out of retirement to sign a non-guaranteed, minor league contract with the Washington Nationals, joining his younger brother, infielder Aaron, and their father, assistant general manager Bob.

Boone, who turns 39 in April, hasn’t played in the majors since 2005, when he spent time with Seattle and Minnesota. He went to spring training with the Mets in 2006 but retired before playing an exhibition game.

“There’s something still in there,” Boone said Monday. “I look at it as I’ve got nothing to lose.”

Veteran Trot Nixon has worked out for the Arizona Diamondbacks as a possible addition should Chad Tracy not be ready to play when the season opens.

Nixon worked out on a Diamondbacks’ practice field Sunday and returned home Monday. If Tracy is healthy, there appear to be no vacancies on the Arizona roster. Tracy, who plays third and first base, is recovering from micro-fracture knee surgery.

Infielder Alex Cintron agreed to a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.

The 29-year-old, a career .277 hitter in parts of seven major league seasons, played the last two seasons with the Chicago White Sox.