BOSTON -- Trot Nixon is trying to hold onto his tunnel vision, focusing on the next game, the next at-bat, the next fly ball hit to him in right field in Fenway Park.

He's trying not to think about the fact that this weekend very well could constitute his final three days in a Boston Red Sox uniform.

Nixon is not alone in that situation. Mark Loretta, Alex Gonzalez, Doug Mirabelli and some others very well could have their Red Sox careers come to a close after tomorrow's game against Baltimore.

"I don't think I'm looking too much at the emotion of it right now. I'm just getting ready to face (Baltimore left-hander Erik) Bedard. Maybe all of a sudden it will become emotional," said Nixon before last night's 4-3 victory over the Orioles.

Nixon, of course, is different than Loretta, Gonzalez, Mirabelli and any other veterans in the Boston clubhouse.

He has been a "true" Red Sox, having grown up in the organization and loyally played for Boston through an eight-year career that, at times, has been fraught with ups and downs.

There have been key hits, no greater than the pinch-hit, two-run walk-off home run to center field at Fenway that Nixon slugged in the 11th inning against Oakland in the 2003 American League Division Series with Boston down, 2-0, in the best-of-five series, sparking the Red Sox to a comeback series win.

And is there anyone else who owned ex-Soxer-turned-traitor Roger Clemens any better than Nixon when the Rocket was wearing the Yankee pinstripes?

His toughness, hustle and gritty style of play have been the right fielder's trademarks, not to mention the pine-tar-caked helmet that served to underscore his blue-collar work ethic.

Nixon's career, though, also has been known for too many trips to the disabled list for various injuries. Over the last three years, Nixon played in only 48 games in 2004, 124 last year and, if he appears in Boston's final two games, his total for 2006 will be 114.

His production, particularly in the extra-base columns, has been diminishing, too. He entered last night's game with only 8 homers, 23 doubles and 51 RBI in 371 at-bats this season.

On the business side of things, at Nixon's age (32), history of injuries and decline in power numbers, it's difficult to see the Red Sox offering him any kind of multiyear deal, which isn't to say Nixon wouldn't like to return.

"I don't think the door is already closed (from the Sox' point of view), but I don't know how far it's open," said Nixon last night. "That's something the organization and my agent will talk about.

"The contract situation is out of my hands and in God's hands. That's the only way I look at it. I may have a lot of options. I may not have a lot," said Nixon, who on Thursday was named along with his wife Kathryn as winners of the Ernie Tavilla Award, given for a demonstration of outstanding character and leadership on the field and in the community by Athletes in Action New England, an interdenominational Christian sports ministry.

This has not been Nixon's best year, he acknowledges. He was hitting close to .300 for most of the year before a right biceps strain knocked him out of action from July 30 until Sept. 4. Since then, his average has been steadily declining. He was at .270 before last night's game.

"My confidence hasn't been all there, and it's not the uncertainty of next year. I just haven't been feeling good at the plate since I came back," said Nixon. "Anyone who doesn't have a contract wants to go out and play well enough to force someone to give you a (new) contract by being healthy and having a good season. But that will take care of itself."

For now, Nixon will just be trying to get through the last two games.

Nixon, the Sox' first-round pick (seventh overall) in 1993 after a standout high school career in Wilmington, N.C., isn't ready to call it quits in Boston just yet. He will prepare himself to help the team win these last two games because, above all, he has been a team-oriented player in Boston ever since manager Jimy Williams stuck with him during a rough start to his big-league career in 1999.

But, when prodded to reflect on how he wanted to be remembered for his time in Boston, should this weekend be the end of his Red Sox career, Nixon thought for a moment.

"I tried to play the game right. I tried to play the game hard. I wish I could have done a whole lot more here," said Nixon, who has 133 homers and 522 RBI in 980 games for the Sox.

"I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to play in front of such great fans," he added. "I hope I've been able to respect the fans, and say 'Thank you' to all the fans who have taken me in and given me such a great home."

skrasner@projo.com / (401) 277-7340