01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, February 25, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

QUOTE:

"I'm definitely hurt. . . . People can use any word they want (for how I was feeling) -- mad, disrespected.

NOMAR GARCIAPARRA

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- There was no masking his feelings. In fact, Nomar Garciaparra didn't even try.

The All-Star shortstop, the Red Sox' No. 1 draft pick in 1994 and a veteran of seven-plus seasons in the big leagues, was emotionally stung over the winter when Boston seemingly was poised to trade him to the Chicago White Sox as a by-product of the Alex Rodriguez deal it thought it had swung with Texas.

Neither deal came to pass, but the residue of the Sox' willingness to trade him away still was eating at Garciaparra yesterday when he arrived in camp.

And so was the fact that even though the Red Sox have said that re-signing Garciaparra, who can be a free agent after this season, is their No. 1 priority, he isn't convinced that is the case, especially given Boston's reduced-rate offer last December.

"I'm definitely hurt," said Garciaparra, who will

turn 31 this season. "I probably feel like anyone would feel spending his whole career in one organization and you have to find out you're traded or pretty much gone on television. People can use any word they want (for how I was feeling) -- mad, disrespected.

"Basically, I was gone, as far as I was concerned. I was traded, shipped off to a new team. A couple of times I didn't know if I should be renting a place in Tucson (spring home of the White Sox) or Vero Beach (spring home of the Dodgers, another trade destination bandied about). I'm glad I still had a connection here in Fort Myers to rent a place," said Garciaparra.

There were times when he tried to treat the subject lightly.

"Can you believe after the last three months I'm still in Fort Myers?" he asked with a laugh as he sat down at a picnic table outside the Red Sox' clubhouse.

But he was clearly rankled, especially with the way contract negotiations have gone.

Last spring, Garciaparra was offered a four-year contract extension for $60 million. He said he and his agent, Arn Tellem, made a counter-offer, but that there was flexibility in the counter-offer.

Garciaparra said the team elected not to negotiate during the season, and that the club didn't come back with its offer -- at the lowered price of four years for $48 million -- until the Sox were working on the A-Rod deal.

"Of course I was stunned (by the reduced offer). I was thinking then their priorities obviously were not for me, but obviously for someone else. That was pretty evident this winter," said Garciaparra.

Certainly, Garciaparra did not help his bargaining position by having an awful September (.170) last year, followed up by a weak postseason (.265 with two extra-base hits and only one RBI in 12 games).

"Looking back on last year, I had one bad month in eight years, which is better than eight bad months in one year," said Garciaparra, who batted .301 with 28 homers and 105 RBI.

But he's a two-time American League batting champion. He's still a terrific shortstop and in great shape. And now that two marquee shortstops (Derek Jeter and A-Rod) are in New York and another just below the Big Three in the A.L., Miguel Tejada, signed a long-term deal with Baltimore for an average of $12 million a year, Garciaparra's bargaining power would seem to have grown.

That, however, hasn't been motivating him the last few weeks.

"It wasn't about enhancing my position," said Garciaparra. "My focus is on playing the game, what I can give you on the field day in and day out. That's what I have done from Day One, and I will continue to do so."

But, while Garciaparra said the sides are talking, he apparently hasn't been bowled over by any dollar figures, nor does anything seem imminent on the contract front.

That issue, though, will take a back seat to his primary mission these days, which is to win a World Series with the Sox. No one expects his trademark on-the-field intensity to lessen despite any hurt feelings or contract concerns he might have.

"I'm focused on baseball," said Garciaparra, who will earn $11.5 million this year. "I signed a contract with the Red Sox a long time ago to play here. I'm still here to fulfill that contract. That's what I'm about."

He said he is excited about this year's team and the potential it has.

"One thing I've always tried to do is win a World Series," said Garciaparra.

And while he's not happy with the way he feels he has been treated by the organization, he said he will continue to "embrace" the Sox' fans and community.

"That (Red Sox) uniform means something to me," said Garciaparra. "Wearing that uniform on a daily basis is a thrill and an honor. I'm excited my socks are still red."

But even Garciaparra said he has no idea how long he'll be able to keep pulling on the Boston Red Sox uniform.